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 ]

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Nabokov's Lolita: the latest thing millennials have apparently ruined

People keep saying that it would never get past the censorious new generation, rather forgetting its arduous struggle to be printed in the 1950sIf millennials are currently aged between the ages of 22 and 36, I am one, albeit somewhere in the upper echelons – and I am also a publisher. And so I... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-03-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global revenue flat for S&S in 2018

Simon & Schuster's worldwide revenues for 2018 dipped fractionally to $825m from $830m in 2017, parent company CBS has said. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-02-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S 2018 Profits Up, Despite Small Sales Decline

A 7% decline in fourth quarter revenue led to a 0.6% drop in sales for the full year at Simon & Schuster. The publisher still posted a 6% increase in operating profits over 2017. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-02-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S UK snaps up Woozeer's debut

Simon & Schuster have pre-empted Not Quite White, the debut by writer and musician Laila Woozeer. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Dream Jobs: Spotlight on Simon & Schuster's Masters at Work Series

More than career guides, these narrative portraits of professional lives let readers try on their dream jobs. (Sponsored) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-01-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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John Burningham, children's author and illustrator, dies aged 82

Burningham, who was married to fellow children’s writer Helen Oxenbury, created beloved picture books including Mr Gumpy’s Outing and Avocado BabyJohn Burningham, the children’s author and illustrator behind some of the 20th century’s most enduring children’s books, has died at the age of 82.The... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-01-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reidy Touts 2018 as S&S's 'Most Successful Year'

In addition to a string of bestsellers, Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn Reidy cited strong gains in digital audio and backlist sales as keys to the “most successful year in Simon & Schuster's history.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-12-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ferrari-Adler, Loehnen Launch New Imprint at S&S

Avid Reader Press, a new fiction and nonfiction imprint at Simon & Schuster to be overseen by current S&S editors Jofie Ferrari-Adler and Ben Loehnen, is set to unveil its first list in late 2019 or early 2020. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Industry Notes: Elsevier Contributes Book Aid’s Millionth Volume, Simon Restructures Touchstone

The Za'atari Camp in Jordan is part of Book Aid International's refugee outreach, supported by Elsevier and other publishers. And Simon & Schuster's Touchstone goes to the Atria and Gallery Books lists. The post Industry Notes: Elsevier Contributes Book Aid’s Millionth Volume, Simon... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-10-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Historical Fiction Is Hot in Europe

In Germany, Turning Point, the finale of Carmen Korn’s Century Trilogy, a historical series about four women in the 20th century, topped the fiction bestseller list in September, and prolific mystery novelist Charlotte Link was in second with The Search, about a missing teen. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Merkh Forms Hybrid Publisher

After leaving traditional publishing, in which he served in executive roles with Nelson Books and at Simon & Schuster’s Howard Books division, Jonathan Merkh has joined the ranks of hybrid publishers with his new company, Forefront Books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bob Woodward's 'Fear' is the fastest-selling book in Simon & Schuster's history

Bob Woodward's "Fear: Trump in the White House" has sold more than 1.1 million copies in its first week of release, making it the fastest-selling book in the history of its publisher, Simon & Schuster. The publisher has ordered a 10th printing of the book, which as of Wednesday morning was... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-09-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S Calls 'Fear' Bestselling Book In Company History

Simon & Schuster has reported that Bob Woodward's 'Fear: Trump In the White House' sold more than 1,100,000 copies through its first week on sale in all formats. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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National Book Awards 2018 Longlist: Fiction

The 10 books longlisted by the National Book Foundation for the 2018 National Book Awards in fiction feature five titles from imprints of Penguin Random House and one each from Graywolf, McSweeney's, Soho Press, Workman, and Simon & Schuster. The post National Book Awards 2018 Longlist:... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Publishing Leaders 2018: Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster is the trade publishing division of the CBS Corporation, and publishes and distributes consumer books under imprints incluing Simon & Schuster, Scribner, Atria, Touchstone, Gallery Books, Pocket Books, Howard Books, Threshold Editions, and Free Press. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bob Woodward's Fear sells more than 750,000 in first day

The veteran Washington reporter’s unflattering portrait of Trump White House gets ninth printing to meet extraordinary demand from US and beyondDonald Trump may have dismissed Bob Woodward’s Fear as “a joke”, but readers are showing themselves to be keen to share in the comedy, with more than... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-09-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Moonves departs S&S parent company CBS Corporation

Leslie Moonves has stepped down from his role as chairman and c.e.o. of CBS Corporation, parent company of Simon & Schuster, weeks after allegations of sexual misconduct were published in the media. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-09-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Folio Literary Management Acquires Harold Ober Associates

Folio Literary Management, LLC, has acquired Harold Ober Associates, a full-service literary agency founded in 1929 that has represented some of the literary titans of the 20th century, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, William Faulkner, Agatha Christie and J.D. Salinger. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster’s Woodward Book on Trump Racks Up Rights Sales Ahead of Its Release

Days before it goes on sale, Bob Woodward's new book from Simon & Schuster tops retail listings, buoyed by an op-ed from inside an embattled Trump White House, and making robust foreign rights sales. The post Simon & Schuster’s Woodward Book on Trump Racks Up Rights Sales Ahead of Its... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-09-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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After his death, John McCain's last book climbs bestseller lists

John McCain's book “The Restless Wave” appeared on bestseller lists following the Arizona senator's death on Saturday. The book, which was released in May by Simon & Schuster, was ranked No. 2 on Amazon's list of bestselling books, and No. 3 on the Barnes & Noble website as of Monday... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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