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 ]

Other news stories related to: "Robert Gottlieb: the editor who changed American literature"


S&S sees revenues slide by 9% to $217m

Worldwide revenues at Simon & Schuster have dipped by 9% to $217m for the third quarter of 2019, from $240m for the same period last year, parent firm CBS has revealed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-12 05:24:03 UTC ]
More news stories like this


S&S Squeezes Out a Q3 Profit Despite Sales Decline

Profits rose by $1 million at Simon & Schuster in the third quarter of 2019 over the comparable period in 2018, despite a 9% drop in sales. In last year's third quarter, Bob Woodward's 'Fear' drove strong sales for the publisher. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-12 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Remembering Stephen Dixon: Writer, Teacher, Friend

Stephen Dixon left us yesterday. The author of Frog (1991) and Interstate (1995) two National Book Award finalists, published some thirty other books, including collections of his over 500 short stories. I first met Dixon on the final day of a class in my junior year of college called “Short... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-11-07 20:03:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Val Kilmer is releasing a memoir (!!!)

Stop whatever it is you’re doing and pay attention to me because I have, just this morning, stumbled upon some joyous, and potentially game-changing, literary news: Val Kilmer is releasing a memoir. Yes, friends, according to Publishers Weekly, Simon & Schuster will publish I’m Your... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-25 16:13:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this


To Sell More Books, S&S Hits the Road

The S&S Selects PrePub Tour sends authors of books due out next season from Simon & Schuster’s five adult imprints across the country to schmooze with literary tastemakers around the country. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Prosser Succeeds Goldstein at S&S

Simon & Schuster has promoted Julia Prosser to v-p and director of publicity of the S&S imprint. Prosser succeeds Cary Goldstein, who is leaving the publisher to become head of curation at media start-up WaitWhat. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-09-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Simon & Schuster lands Brearley '#MeToo reckoning for mothers'

Simon & Schuster has landed “the #MeToo reckoning for mothers” by writer and activist Joeli Brearley about new mums being pushed out of their jobs. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-28 20:40:58 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Which Ravenclaw from Harry Potter Are You?

If you are an avid reader, there’s a good chance you’re also a Ravenclaw. But which one are you? Take our quiz to find out! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-08-21 10:32:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Hillary and Chelsea Clinton co-write The Book of Gutsy Women

Their book profiles more than 100 path-breaking women down the centuries, from a 17th-century radical nun to Greta ThunbergHillary Clinton is set to publish a new book about the women who have inspired her, from Mary Beard to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – “leaders with the courage to stand up to... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-08-06 12:45:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Hillary and Chelsea Clinton write 'Gutsy Women' book for S&S

Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton will publish The Book of Gutsy Women: Favourite Stories of Courage and Resilience on 1st October 2019, with Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-06 01:15:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The fourth woman

Nearly a decade ago, Lisa Taddeo signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster to write about desire in America. Taddeo was on a hot streak: She was writing regularly for Esquire, New York, and other publications, including a reported fictional first-person piece told from the point of view of... Continue reading at Columbia Journalism Review

[ Columbia Journalism Review | 2019-07-09 15:59:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Stambaugh to Lead Consolidated S&S Business Teams

Doug Stambaugh has been promoted to the newly created position of v-p and director of strategic operations and business development at Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-06-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


BookExpo 2019: S&S Welcomes Angelina Ballerina and Max & Ruby

Three classic picture book and board book characters, who have enchanted multiple generations of children, return in a pair of fall releases from Simon & Schuster. The books mark the relaunch of the Angelina Ballerina and Max & Ruby series under the S&S banner. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-05-30 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Mystical Undercurrents of Karl Marlantes

Marlantes’s second novel, 'Deep River,' is a sprawling, painstakingly realistic novel about Finnish immigrants in the Pacific Northwest during the first half of the 20th century. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-05-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


S&S revenues up for first quarter by $4m

Simon & Schuster has seen revenues for the first quarter rise $4m, driven by higher print sales, against the same period last year. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


S&S to Distribute New Law&Crime Publishing Unit

The Law&Crime network, an on demand and live streaming network focused on trials and legal commentary, is launching a publishing unit and has signed with Simon & Schuster for worldwide sales representation and distribution. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-04-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Obituary: Danielle Cumbo

Publishing industry veteran Danielle Cumbo, who most recently served as director, international sales at Simon & Schuster, passed away after a long illness on April 16. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-04-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


S&S scoops Khashoggi book

Simon & Schuster has landed The Killing in the Consulate: The Life and Death of Jamal Khashoggi by Channel 4 News’s Foreign Affairs Correspondent Jonathan Rugman. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Macintyre reveals 20th century's 'greatest woman spy' for Viking

Viking has signed two new books from author Ben Macintyre, with the first revealing unpublished intelligence sources about the 20th century's "greatest woman spy" Ursula Kuczynski. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this