“Lusting after a Tart of Peacock Tongues”: A Conversation with Publisher Barbara Epler, by Veronica Esposito

Interviews Barbara Epler started working at New Directions after graduating from college in 1984, and she has been its president and publisher since 2011. In 2015 Poets & Writers awarded Epler their Editor’s Prize, and in 2016 Words Without Borders gave her the Ottaway Award for the Promotion of International Literature. Veronica Esposito: You became editor-in-chief with New Directions almost twenty-five years ago, in 1996. What are some of the biggest changes in the translation world since then? Barbara Epler: Without yet being a large enough share of what’s published in America overall, there has been a great growth in the amount and quality of translations appearing here. To my mind, that’s due mostly to two factors: a miraculous growth in new companies here (mostly small and agile) largely or entirely devoted to translated literature, as well as a sort of general cultural nausea about how parochial the USA tends to be. Back in the mid-1990s, great groundbreaking presses interested in translation were fairly thin on the ground. We did not yet have Archipelago, And Other Stories, Deep Vellum, Fence, Dorothy Project, New Vessel, Restless, Nightboat, New York Review of Books Classics, Open Letter, Other Press, Two Lines, Tilted Axis, Ugly Duckling, Wakefield, Wave, and more (apologies to houses I am forgetting!). Back in 1996, all these marvelous publishers were still a gleam in their founders’ eyes. Of course, back then... Continue reading at 'World Literature Today'

[ World Literature Today | 2021-01-11 14:39:22 UTC ]

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The Very First Books Published by Some of Your Favorite Publishing Houses

One of the most interesting things about book publishing, as an industry, is the way imprints and publishing houses develop over time—shifting focus to keep up with public interest, taking on personalities along with personnel, changing hands ad nauseam and merging like no one’s watching.... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-08-15 09:36:09 UTC ]
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Granta signs novel and non-fiction from Jenny Erpenbeck

Granta Books has bought two books by the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize-winning author Jenny Erpenbeck. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-23 05:32:17 UTC ]
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Announcing the 2019 Whiting Literary Magazine Prizes

This morning, the Whiting Foundation has announced the winners of the second annual Literary Magazine Prizes, which are given “for superb publishing, advocating for writers, and strengthening the literary community.” This year, the number of awards was increased from three to five, with two new... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-18 13:00:28 UTC ]
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Jhumpa Lahiri and Hari Kunzru Reflect on America’s Immigration Crisis

As America marks this July 4th holiday, an outcry on immigration is leading to national headlines, including from a congressional delegation that visited an immigration detention center in El Paso, Texas, this week. PEN America has gathered a series of statements from a number of writers and... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-03 08:48:26 UTC ]
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Faber & Faber: by Toby Faber review – the untold story of a publishing giant

They turned down Ulysses and Animal Farm, but still shaped 20th‑century literatureAll publishing houses have archives, but for anyone interested in 20th-century literature the archive of Faber & Faber is a fabled treasure house. This is the firm that was, as Toby Faber puts it, “midwife at... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-06-20 11:00:08 UTC ]
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Obituary: Michelle Lewy, 62

Michelle Lewy, who held executive spots at a number of publishing houses, died May 7. She was 62. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-05-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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J.D. Salinger’s unseen work to be published; reaction from literary community is mixed

The news that J.D. Salinger's family is preparing to publish the late author's previously unseen works has left some literary observers excited and some unsettled. On Friday, the Guardian reported that Matt Salinger, the son of the legendary author of "The Catcher in the Rye," is working to... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2019-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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From Lena Dunham to Stormzy: the world of the celebrity book imprint

On the heels of the rapper’s deal with Random House, a look at the stars dipping their toes into publishing with imprints of their ownWith the launch of his new book imprint with publishing giant Random House, announced on Thursday via Instagram, the grime rapper Stormzy joined a growing list of... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-07-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After AWP Dismisses Exec Director, Questions and Anger Linger

Hours after AWP18 wound down last week, the literary organization's board of trustees severed ties with its longtime executive director, David Fenza. The move has angered a number of former board members and others within the literary community. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Lithuania’s ‘Day of the Book Smugglers’ Comes to the UK Ahead of London Book Fair

Taking to the streets on Lithuania's annual 'Day of the Book Smugglers,' a team of fashionable book 'smugglers' delivered Lithuanian writings to agents' offices, publishing houses, and media newsrooms ahead of London Book Fair's Market Focus on the Baltics. The post Lithuania’s ‘Day of the Book... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Helsinki Literary Agency Authors Win Both the Finlandia Prize and the Junior Prize

The agency, formed by three publishing houses, this year has captured both the 'adult' Finlandia Prize and the junior prize in children's literature. The post Helsinki Literary Agency Authors Win Both the Finlandia Prize and the Junior Prize appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Indigo Eyes U.S. Expansion

The Canadian retailer Indigo Books & Music is in discussions to expand operations to the United States as early 2018, according to several high level executives at publishing houses in both Canada and the United States. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A History of Race and Racism in America, in 24 Chapters

A decade-by-decade history of race and racism in America, compiled by a National Book Award Winner. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2017-02-22 10:00:01 UTC ]
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Beaumont seeks 'under-represented' voices after move to Marjacq

Diana Beaumont is keen to seek voices currently “under-represented” in the literary community in her new role at the Marjacq Scripts literary agency. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chicagoland Indies Mobilize Windy City Area's Literary Community

Two dozen Chicagoland independent bookstores are mobilizing the Windy City area's literary community by forming the Chicago Independent Bookstore Alliance, raising the visibility of Chicagoland's indies both in the region and on social media. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-11-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Elena Ferrante 'unmasked' by Italian journalist

An Italian investigative journalist claims to have discovered the identity of pseudonymous author Elena Ferrante to the anger and frustration of the literary community. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookseller Gary Schulze Dies One Week After Selling Store

The recent co-owner of Minneapolis's Once Upon a Crime Bookstore, which is a fixture in the Twin Cities' literary community, died on Wednesday afternoon of leukemia. He was 66. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Granta/Portobello buys three

Granta Books has acquired the rights to publish a new collection of poetry by "acclaimed" poet Ben Lerner, and a "powerful" new work by Cynan Jones. Meanwhile Portobello has bought a new novel from Jenny Erpenbeck, this year's winner of the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Diversity Survey Deadline Nears

The goal of the survey, which publisher Lee & Low created and is overseeing, is to gather statistics about the staff makeup of both publishing houses and review journals based on gender, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and disability. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-09-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Obituary: Liz Perle, 59

Perle, who served as publisher of William Morrow, among other top level positions across publishing houses, died August 20 at the age of 59, after living with breast cancer for more than eight years. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-08-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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