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"


Digital helps lift profit at Simon & Schuster

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Wed, 04/05/2011 - 09:30 Digital sales were worth 18% of Simon & Schuster's total global sales in its first quarter as its revenues increased 2% to $155m. Digital revenue more than doubled to $27.9m (£16.9m) from the first quarter in 2010, with... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-05-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Another Palin Book on the Way

Howard Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, announced on Monday that on May 24, it would publish "Blind Allegiance to Sarah Palin," an account of Ms. Palin's time as governor and as a vice-presidential candidate, written by Frank Bailey, one of her former aides. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2011-04-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Penguin and Foyles lead way in Bookseller Industry Awards

Written By: Lisa Campbell Publication Date: Tue, 12/04/2011 - 08:30 Penguin is topping the table with an industry-leading six nominations in the 2011 Bookseller Industry Awards. Following closely behind in the nomination league tables are HarperCollins and Hodder & Stoughton, both listed... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Four chosen for Kim Scott Walwyn shortlist

Publication Date: Tue, 12/04/2011 - 17:05 Editors from Simon & Schuster, Atlantic, Random House and Meadowside Children's Books have made it onto the shortlist for the 2011 Kim Scott Walwyn Prize. The award recently refocused its criteria, teaming up with the Society of Young Publishers... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Hodder and S&S' "Big Fat" scoop

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Fri, 01/04/2011 - 10:34 Hodder & Stoughton and Simon & Schuster are both capitalising on a guilty pleasure, acquiring Big Fat Gypsy Weddings and Will and Kate's Big Fat Gypsy Wedding respectively. H&S senior editor Fenella Bates... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-04-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Catherine Cookson estate goes direct in ebook deal

Written By: Bookseller staff Publication Date: Mon, 28/03/2011 - 08:53 Catherine Cookson's estate has signed a deal to release 100 of her novels as ebooks directly through Amazon, cutting out her publishers Transworld and Simon & Schuster. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Ten picked for Booktrust Best New Illustrators 2011

Publication Date: Tue, 22/03/2011 - 17:23 Ten young illustrators, including artists published by Walker, Simon & Schuster and Tate, have been named as the Booktrust Best New Illustrators 2011. The 10 were presented with their awards at a ceremony in central London this evening [22nd March]... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


HarperCollins acquires Jermaine Jackson title

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Wed, 16/03/2011 - 14:59 HarperCollins has bought a book by Jermaine Jackson about the life of his pop star brother Michael. World rights to You are Not Alone: Michael, Through a Brother's Eyes were bought by Natalie Jerome, publishing director for... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


New iBooks update opens door to fully illustrated publishing

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 15/03/2011 - 15:45 Apple's latest version of its iBooks app, which allows ebooks to have a pictorial layout similar to printed books and supports full page illustrations, has been hailed by one publisher as being "the beginning of a... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Anjelica Huston memoir to Simon & Schuster

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Wed, 02/03/2011 - 07:54 Simon & Schuster UK will publish the memoir of Prizzi's Honour actress Anjelica Huston next year after buying her autobiography. S&S UK bought UK and Commonwealth rights including Australia from Cathryn Summerhayes in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Operating income leaps 40% for S&S worldwide

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Thu, 17/02/2011 - 09:30 Operating income at Simon & Schuster's global business leapt 39.5% in 2010, despite a slight decline in sales. For the 12 months ending 31st December, operating income at S&S was $64.6m (£40.1m). Revenue declined... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


S&S Children's acquires "Arthurian" series

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Tue, 08/02/2011 - 08:20 Simon & Schuster Children’s Books has acquired an adventure series inspired by Arthurian legend. Venetia Gosling, fiction editorial director at Simon & Schuster, bought world rights to eight books from Ben... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Amazon.co.uk picks Rising Stars

Written By: Charlotte Williams Amazon.co.uk has selected books published by Myriad Editions, Fig Tree, Atlantic Books and Simon & Schuster as its four Rising Stars for this quarter. Snowdrops by A D Miller (Atlantic Books) is currently the featured book, with a Q&A with Miller on the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-02-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this