Polly Toynbee: what my privileged start in life taught me about the British class system

It wasn’t just luck that steered the Guardian columnist to Oxford and into a media career ... She reflects on the subtle mechanics of class (and an early encounter with a naked future PM)Children know. They breathe it in early, for there’s no unknowing the difference between nannies, cleaners, below-stairs people and the family upstairs. Children are the go-betweens, one foot in each world, and yet they know very well from the earliest age where they belong, where their destiny lies or, to put it crudely, who pays whom. Tiny hands are steeped young in the essence of class and caste. In nursery school, in reception they see the Harry Potter sorting hat at work. They know. And all through school those fine gradations grow clearer, more precise, more consciously knowing, more shaming, more frightening. Good liberal parents teach their children to check their privilege – useful modern phrase – but it swells up like a bubo on the nose. There’s no hiding it.I can summon up the childhood shame at class embarrassments. Aged seven like me, Maureen, with her hair pinned sideways in a pink slide, lived in a pebble-dashed council house by the water tower. They were at the other end of Lindsey, more hamlet than village, half a mile down the road from my father’s pink thatched cottage set in the flat prairie lands of Suffolk, where I spent half my time, the other half in London, shuttling between divorced parents. I envied Maureen for what looked to me like a cheerful large family... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-05-20 12:00:56 UTC ]
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John Green to Wi10 Booksellers: Life Would "Suck Without You"

John Green spoke before Wi10 booksellers Monday afternoon, thanking them for jump-starting his literary career 10 years ago. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Car Brands Are Starting to Get the Marketing Data They've Always Wanted

The car industry isn't slowing down when it comes to employing more data for everything from vehicle malfunctions to marketing. In fact, in terms of digital advertising, the category looks like it's putting the pedal to the metal, as tech vendors, publishers and other players increasingly roll... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2015-02-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Pavilion signs "Great British Sewing Bee” finalist

Pavilion has signed a book by “The Great British Sewing Bee” finalist Chinelo Bally. Bally was a runner-up in the second series of the show, aired on BBC Two in 2014. Amy Christian, senior commissioning editor at Pavilion, bought world rights from Stuart Cooper of Metrostar Media Limited. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Start-Up Touts Book Discovery Tool

Digital distributor Trajectory has an algorithm it claims can extract a book's 'personality' in order to offer better recommendations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Children's book start-up Lost My Name plans global expansion

British children’s book start-up Lost My Name is planning to expand into several new territories in 2015 after claiming it outsold Julia Donaldson’s Superworm in 2015.   The company sells personalised picture books via its website www.lostmy.name. Customers create a book by entering the name... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing, After a Life in Publishing

Besides sharing years of experience in traditional publishing, the trio of Pat Mulcahy, Philip Turner, and Joan Hilty have other things in common. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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SIBA Starts Year of Engagement

Today SIBA kicked off its B3! Building Better Booksellers program, which enables booksellers to earn points to defray the cost of attending its Discovery Show in September. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oyster Starts 2015 Off With Two Big Announcements

Oyster, a book subscription service in the United States, has kicked off 2015 with two major announcements, including offering more than 1 million books. The post Oyster Starts 2015 Off With Two Big Announcements appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Roberto Saviano: My life under armed guard

For eight years, the journalist Roberto Saviano has faced constant threat of death for exposing the secrets of the Naples mafia in his book Gomorrah. Is the price of life under armed guard too much for a writer to pay?As a young writer growing up in Caserta, a suburb of Naples, I felt myself... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why British publishers don’t sweat new US competition

Buzzfeed, HuffPo, Mashable and Vice have all set up in the U.K. Agencies weigh in on their collective impact. The post Why British publishers don’t sweat new US competition appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'More than just books': Simon & Schuster launches video classes

Authors including 'The End of Illness' David B. Agus will be offering video classes through Simon & Schuster. Topics include health, self-help, and finance. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Take a look at the world that was when Hayhow started in 1987

For the Kansas City Business Journal, 1987 is a significant year: It's when Publisher Joyce Hayhow joined the team. Hayhow has been publisher for 23 years, leading the newsgathering operation on a remarkable journey. Friday marks her last day, as she enters a new phase — retirement. RELATED:... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2015-01-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Birmingham hopes British Library could protect flagship from cuts

Officials in Birmingham are hoping that a deal with the British Library could help protect the flagship Library of Birmingham from cuts. According to a report in the Birmingham Post, the council is initiating talks which could see the Library of Birmingham become a regional centre for the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookselling Roundup: Fresh Starts

Bookstores are taking stock and re-evaluating their offerings during the new year, new you season. Some like SF Vanni, the first Italian bookstore in the U.S., are returning as a pop-up. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mark Zuckerberg’s New Year’s Resolution: Start a Worldwide Book Club

It's going to be tough for Mark Zuckerberg to break his New Year's resolution this year. He's got more than 130,000 people to keep him accountable. The post Mark Zuckerberg’s New Year’s Resolution: Start a Worldwide Book Club appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-01-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New York Times to Fire 21 Union Employees Starting Today, Union Says

The New York Times will fire 21 union employees starting today, according to the union, exceeding the total number of job cuts the newspaper publisher had originally said was needed to reduce costs.New York Times Co. had accepted the buyout applications of 57 union employees and almost 30... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-12-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Panel Mania: It’s a Crab’s Life for Arthur De Pins

Imagine never being able to turn around but only being able to walk in a straight line your entire life. That’s the problem facing the square crabs in 'The March of the Crabs Vol. 1: The Crabby Condition' by Arthur De Pins. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Polish event brings 'Harry Potter' castle Hogwarts to life

'Harry Potter' fans came together at a castle in Poland to act out the world of J.K. Rowling's books.  More events are planned for April. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-12-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Life begins at 85 for Thorsons

HarperCollins has revealed the look for the relaunch of its Thorsons mind, body and spirit list, 85 years after its creation. Thorsons will lead the relaunch with the reissue of eight classic titles in new livery (each priced at £12.99). The titles include iconic relationship book Men are From... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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VIDEO: 'Boys are never taught not to rape'

An investigation into the rape trial of an Aussie rules footballer has been awarded Britain's leading sports book prize. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2014-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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