Robert Gottlieb: the editor who changed American literature

The man who ushered classics like Catch-22 into the world, Gottlieb has reason to brag. But in his new memoir Avid Reader he prefers to downplay the editor’s role Joseph Heller, the author of Catch-22, once gave an interview where he credited his editor with kicking his work into shape. After the interview ran, Heller got an irritated phone call. The caller was his editor, Robert Gottlieb. Gottlieb told Heller to knock it off. “I felt then, and still do, that readers shouldn’t be made aware of editorial interventions,” Gottlieb writes in his new memoir, Avid Reader: A Life. “They have a right to feel that what they’re reading comes direct from the author to them.”Gottlieb’s book is full of stories like that one. He is a very unassuming person, for an alleged legend – a characterization he laughs at to me, saying his daughter pokes fun at him for so often being called it. Yet beginning at Simon & Schuster in the 1950s and 1960s, flourishing at Knopf in the 1970s and 1980s, and with a brief but memorable detour to the New Yorker (as an editor), Gottlieb’s editing pen has touched the manuscripts of most of the important American writers of the 20th century – and several of the British ones, too. He did it, though, as much from behind the scenes as he possibly could. “I’ve given very few interviews,” he told me when I met him at his book-lined townhouse on New York’s East Side. He is only giving this one now, he says, because he needs to help the publisher sell his book. ... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #avid reader #simon schuster #20th century

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Robert Gottlieb: the editor who changed American literature'


Why is American book publishing so white?

If squabbles over format, pricing and Amazon have led the US publishing industry to neglect an ever more diverse audience, we have forgotten why people read books in the first placeThe true price of publishingAt the recent National Book Awards ceremony in New York City, presenter and bestselling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing industry #diverse audience #lemony snicket


Moses and the American Constitution

Last week, the Texas State Board of Education held its final public hearing on new social studies textbooks being adopted for use in the state’s schools over the next decade. Despite being deep in the heart of Texas, some right-wing activists testifying at the hearing appeared to believe we were... Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2014-11-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #textbook publishers #climate change


Portfolio Penguin adds editor Zoe Bohm

Portfolio Penguin, the business books imprint of Penguin Random House, has hired Zoe Bohm as editor. Reporting to Portfolio and Viking publisher Joel Rickett, she will be acquiring business and personal development titles including narratives, memoirs, how-to, inspirational, leadership,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #portfolio penguin


Will Rebekah Brooks really replace Robert Thomson as News Corp's CEO?

Website speculates on changes at Rupert Murdoch’s publishing company Continue reading... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-11-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rebekah brooks #rupert murdoch


Young People's Literature at the 2014 National Book Awards: A Photo Essay

On November 19, five children's and YA authors headed to Cipriani Wall Street for the 65th National Book Awards. Our photographer caught up with the authors (and their editors) who were nominated in the Young People's Literature category, and also captured the winner. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literature category #photo essay #photographer caught


For the Love of Gospel Music: Robert Darden

Robert Darden is both a scholar and an evangelist of black gospel music, seeking to preserve it through archival work and to write its history. His new book illuminates how spirituals carried messages not only of hope for the next world but freedom in this one. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #gospel music


Executive Changes at McGraw-Hill Education

McGraw-Hill Education has restructured its domestic education operations under Peter Cohen, who had been president of its K-12 group. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mcgraw-hill education


AAP, Authors Guild Discuss Author-Editor Process

The AAP and Authors Guild co-hosted a panel last week on Capitol Hill about authorial-editorial collaboration, in advance of Congress’s review of the U.S. Copyright Act. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #capitol hill


Digital 'helping editors be speedy', FutureBook hears

Speed and transparency are two of the key benefits publishers are gaining by incorporating digital into their editorial processes, the FutureBook Conference heard today (14th November). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #futurebook hears


Perseus Makes Changes to Sales Team

Following the appointment of Sabrina McCarthy as senior v-p, group sales at Perseus Books, part of CEO David Steinberger's restructuring efforts, the publisher announced further reorganization to its sales division. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sales team #group sales #perseus books #restructuring efforts #publisher announced #sales division


Haruki Murakami Receives Welt Literature Prize

Haruki Murakami is the first Japanese author to win the Welt Literature Prize of 10,000 euros. Join our reading group to discuss Murakami's literary works. The post Haruki Murakami Receives Welt Literature Prize appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-11-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #haruki murakami #japanese author #literary works


What's the best passage in literature?

Amazon shares information – gathered from readers who highlight favorite lines in their Kindles – about the most popular passages in books from the Bible to 'The Hunger Games'. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-11-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hunger games


Print Media Buying Has Stabilized, Agency Execs Say, But Change is Still the Watchword

The most dominant story in magazine media over the last decade-the decline in print as digital media surges-may be changing, according to an all-star panel of ad agency executives at a min breakfast Thursday. There was general consensus on the panel of four that the decline has stopped and... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2014-11-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #print media #agency execs #magazine media


Meet The Editor: Aleksi Pöyry of Granta Finland

Granta Finland launched a new issue at the 2014 Frankfurt Book Fair: Best of Young Finnish Novelists, published by Otava. We talk with editor Aleksi Pöyry about it. The post Meet The Editor: Aleksi Pöyry of Granta Finland appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-11-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post meet


Kent Leaving HC Canada Amid Fulfillment Changes

HarperCollins Canada president and CEO David Kent will leave the company at the end of the year following the decision to move fulfillment of HC Canada's titles in Canada to R.R. Donnelley. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-11-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hc canada


Fault in Our Stars author backs literature diversity campaign

We need to reflect the reality of our communities, says The Fault in Our Stars writer John Green in video backing social media-led We Need Diverse Books campaignAll readers need to know that they too can be the heroes of a story, according to the bestselling author of The Fault in Our Stars,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john green #diverse books #bestselling author #increase diversity #childrens books


Bon Appetit Editor Explains Why Data Tastes So Good

In June, Bon Appetit magazine and IBM created an unlikely alliance: The Conde Nast publication tapped the IBM supercomputer Watson to inform a web-based cooking app called Chef Watson. The app combines the computer's information on food with Bon Appetit's more than 9,000 recipes to kick out a... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bon appetit


Hosseini, Lahiri and Shamsie on longlist for DSC South Asian literature Prize

Khaled Hosseini, Jhumpa Lahiri and Kamila Shamsie are among the 10 authors longlisted for the $50,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2015. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #khaled hosseini #jhumpa lahiri #kamila shamsie


The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same The 2014 Consumer Magazine CEO Survey

It's not a shocker that print ad revenue has fallen while the pile of dimes from digital advertising has been growing. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2014-10-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #things change #digital advertising


Manchester Literature Festival 2014: Emma Jane Unsworth at Canongate Lates

No one chronicles a Manuncian night out like her, says Helen Pidd (who also enjoyed Zoe Pilger, Anneliese Mackintosh and Karima Francis at the book fest)I loved Animals by Emma Jane Unsworth so much that I read it twice in a week.Picking it up for the first time over the summer, I binged on it,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-10-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #anneliese mackintosh