Publisher says it was forced to withdraw Wendy Doniger's book The Hindus because of law threatening jail for insults to religionPenguin India has said "intolerant and restrictive" Indian laws forced it to remove a book from sale after it tried to defend an American author's religious history against objections from a conservative Hindu group.The publisher's decision this week to withdraw and pulp all copies of the historian Wendy Doniger's The Hindus: An Alternative History shocked writers and intellectuals in India, with some worrying it was a sign of rising intolerance against dissent in the country.Doniger defended Penguin India in a statement, saying the publisher had battled for four years against a lawsuit filed by the Hindu group Shiksha Bachao Andolan Samiti (Save Education Movement).The group objected to the book's description of mythological texts as fictional and said it hurt "the religious feelings of millions of Hindus", according to the lawsuit, which also named Doniger and the New-York-based arm of the publisher Penguin Group Inc as defendants.Penguin India said it "believes, and has always believed, in every individual's right to freedom of thought and expression, a right explicitly codified in the Indian constitution", according to a statement from the company released on Friday.It warned, however, that India's penal code would "make it increasingly difficult for any Indian publisher to uphold international standards of free expression".The code,... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2014-02-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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International publishing rights agent Stephanie Barrouillet of Tel Aviv describes the effects of a short-lived fixed-price law, just repealed by Israel. The post Israel’s Short-Lived Fixed-Price Book Law: A Rights Agent’s Viewpoint appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Under the new Subway Reads promotion, NYC commuters will be able to download free ebooks via free wi-fi installed at 175 subway stations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-08-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The 2016 British Book Design and Production Awards finalists have been revealed, with publisher Penguin leading the nominations with six titles on the shortlist, followed closely by Pan Macmillan (five), with strong showings from The Folio Society (four titles), Frances Lincoln and Little Tiger... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Israel has repealed its Law for the Protection of Literature and Writers, which required fixed book prices for 18 months and minimum author royalty rates. The post Amid Controversy, Israel Repeals Its Fixed Price ‘Book Law’ appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-06-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chiki Sarkar, the former publisher of Penguin Random House India, is launching Juggernaut Books this month. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The annual AWP conference opened Thursday at the L.A. Convention Center with nearly 11,000 attendees and a record number of exhibitors. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publisher responds to challenge from the schools minister to provide schoolchildren with affordable access to great books From Solomon Northrup’s 19th-century memoir about his years in captivity, Twelve Years a Slave, to classic novels such as Gulliver’s Travels and Madame Bovary, schools... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2016-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The average book’s length has grown from 320 pages in 1999 to 400 pages in 2014, a shift some blame on digital publishing. The post Is Digital Publishing to Blame for Books Getting Longer? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Testing Penguin Random House's "Hotline" for a personalized list of book suggestions for gift givers, our correspondent comes away impressed. The post Looking for the Perfect Book Present? Try the Penguin Hotline Really. appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publisher wants to cut 225 jobs from Warwickshire warehouse, where books are distributed, owing to decline in demandReaders’ preference for ebooks has been blamed for 225 potential job losses after publisher Penguin Random House announced cuts that leave staff facing an anxious Christmas.The... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Effective January 1, 2016, all Penguin ebooks purchased by libraries after January 1 will be licensed on a perpetual access model. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-12-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In light of Amazon opening a physical store in Seattle, the booksellers association head is reminding publishers and other vendors of their obligation to ensure that accounts do not transfer inventory from one class of business to another. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Penguin Lessons is a warm and unique story about an unlikely friendship between a man and a penguin, and fond memories of a long-ago trip to South America. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A law in Romania allows prisoners who publish books to cut months off their sentences. Several imprisoned politicians and businessmen have taken advantage. The post Bizarre Romanian Law Frees Convicts Who Publish Books appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives
[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-11-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Penguin Books India has acquired three new books from internationally acclaimed author Amitav Ghosh. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Allen Lane, while knighted for services to literature, was never much of a reader. Were brothers Richard and John written out of their own bestselling story?Eighty years ago, three brothers – Allen, Richard and John Lane – founded Penguin Books in London. The brothers planned the venture in... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2015-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A number of big bestsellers helped to offset 'weaker' ebook sales in the third quarter, Pearson reported. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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To celebrate her new book, 'Switch,' Ingrid Law criss-crossed the country on a book tour that spanned Colorado to Georgia. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Describe your role My job title is picture book designer but people outside the industry always think that I must illustrate all the books! Unfortunately I’m not that talented (though I do a mean stick man) so I end up describing my job as being an editor for the illustrators. Working in... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-09-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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A collection of essays from Zadie Smith, a novel critiquing the concept of romantic love by Alain de Botton and Marina Lewycka’s first book in four years are among the highlights of Penguin General’s spring 2016 list. Authors and staff from Penguin General – which comprises of imprints Penguin,... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2015-07-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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