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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Obituary: Art Sesselberg, S&S Sales Manager

Art Sesselberg, a special markets national accounts manager at Simon & Schuster, died on October 8 due to complications from pneumonia. He was 53. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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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... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2016-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Canadian Publishing 2016: Big Books for a Big Country

Canadian publishing is dominated by some familiar names: Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Robert Gottlieb: Avid Reader, Reluctant Writer

Robert Gottlieb in his Midtown Manhattan townhouse. He has mainly spent his career as an editor but has just published a memoir about his life in the world of books. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2016-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Uplifting' account of modern-day masculinity to S&S

Simon & Schuster is to publish Chase the Rainbow, an "honest yet uplifting" account of a woman's life affected by the suicide of her husband by journalist Poorna Bell. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ralph Lauren autobiography snapped up by S&S

Simon & Schuster is to publish the autobiography of fashion icon Ralph Lauren next autumn. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global Publishing Leaders 2016: Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster was founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln ("Max") Schuster. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-08-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Global publishing chiefs condemn closure of Turkish presses

Chief executives from leading publishing houses around the world, including Markus Dohle of Penguin Random House, Carolyn Reidy of Simon & Schuster and Arnaud Nourry of Hachette Livre, have said they are "deeply concerned" about the closure of 29 publishing houses in Turkey and called on... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S to Publish Clinton/Kaine Campaign Book

Simon & Schuster will publish Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine’s official campaign book, 'Stronger Together,' on September 6. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S India steps up local publishing with new hire

Simon & Schuster is stepping up its local publishing in India and has hired an editorial director to head up a new list. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-08-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S to publish 'revealing' insight into motorsport

Simon & Schuster is to publish Total Competition, a "unique and revealing insight" into motorsport by Ross Brawn and Adam Parr, in November. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-07-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Scotty T memoir snapped up by S&S

"Geordie Shore" star and "Celebrity Big Brother" winner Scotty T (Scott Timlin) is writing a memoir, to be published by Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S picks up Furnivall

Simon & Schuster has acquired a novel by former Little, Brown author Kate Furnivall as part of a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Another Publishers Lunch: Chow Down With Ira Silverberg

Never one to stay at his desk, Simon & Schuster's Ira Silverberg is holding an auction for lunch, a natural for this man-about-publishing. The post Another Publishers Lunch: Chow Down With Ira Silverberg appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bergstrom leaves S&S for Gleam Futures

Abigail Bergstrom, former senior commissioning editor at Simon & Schuster, has been appointed to the role of publishing manager for talent management company Gleam Futures. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cheung moves to Piatkus in two-book deal

Author and spiritualist Theresa Cheung has found a new publisher in Piatkus, after previously being published by Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S to publish Jaycee Lee Dugard book on freedom

Simon & Schuster is set to publish Freedom: My Book of Firsts, a memoir by Jaycee Lee Dugard, who was kidnapped in the US aged 11 and held prisoner for 18 years. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2016-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Can Simon & Schuster's new Muslim imprint ease publishing's diversity problem?

The new Salaam imprint, focused on Muslim characters and stories, is expected to launch in 2017 with nine books, from picture books for children to Young Adult titles for tweens and teens. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2016-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster’s Salaam Reads Focuses on Muslim Characters and Stories

Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing has announced the launch of Salaam Reads, focusing on Muslim characters and stories. The post Simon & Schuster’s Salaam Reads Focuses on Muslim Characters and Stories appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2016-02-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of February 29, 2016

Simon & Schuster’s Atheneum imprint buys a picture book by Richard T. Morris, Da Capo nabs a book about the battle of Antietam, Dial signs Jessica Taylor for two YA novels, and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2016-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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