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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Global Publishing Leaders 2015: De Agostini Editore

Italy’s De Agostini S.p.A. is a family-owned international group, founded in 1901 and controlled by B&D Holding. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How will Amazon's new pay-per-page model change ebooks?

Just as Spotify has done for music, the new pay-per-page system could change the way ebooks are published and authors paid. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-06-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sick of P&L Statements, Literary Editor Quits, Gets Web Kudos

Sarah Knight was sick of commuting, P&L statements and eating salad at her desk at Simon & Schuster, so she quit to freelance and seek happiness. The post Sick of P&L Statements, Literary Editor Quits, Gets Web Kudos appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Newsonomics: Could a Small Google Tech Change Mean Tens of Millions to News Publishers?

The late April news was impressive and divisive: Google would spend €150 million on a new Digital News Initiative (DNI) partnership with European news publishers (“Google to launch $150 million partnership with publishers&rdquo ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookshop proposal for literature lovers

The Falmouth Bookseller was at the heart of a romance story recently, when book-lover Jason Sandeman-Allen staged a surprise proposal to his girlfriend Stephanie Ashton in the indie bookshop. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German Literature is Hot in Taiwan

German literature has found surprising success in Taiwan, where several titles have become bestsellers and publishers are adding German-speaking editors. The post German Literature is Hot in Taiwan appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In Europe, VAT Changes Hit Self-Published Authors

Changes in VAT designed to force Amazon to pay higher tax rates is complicating direct sales for self-published authors, potentially strengthening Amazon. The post In Europe, VAT Changes Hit Self-Published Authors appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How One Writer Cooked Her Way Through Great Literature

From Jane Austen's white soup to a liver mousse inspired by 'Silence of the Lambs,' butcher and writer Cara Nicoletti explores recipes inspired by classic and contemporary book. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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5 Things Editors and Publishers Can Do to Survive Digital Disruption

About a year ago, I stopped referring to Bon Appétit as a magazine and started calling it a brand. Six months later I even dropped the air quotes. Not that it was easy. If you attended journalism school or worked for your college daily, you were reared on the separation of church and state.... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2015-06-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Editor & Publisher Now Accepting Entries for the 2015 EPPY™ Awards

Editor & Publisher Magazine has announced its call for entries for the 2015 EPPY™ Awards, honoring the best in digital media. Now in its 20th year, this international contest has broadened its scope to keep up with the ever-changing Int ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2015-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Longtime Editor of Better Homes and Gardens Retiring

Meredith Corp. said Gayle Butler, who helped expand the magazine’s digital reach, would be replaced by Stephen Orr, the executive editor at Conde Nast Traveler. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Licensing Solutions for a Changing Publishing Industry

Your backlist content is a goldmine of licensing revenue. Michael Healy offers three tips for publishers to increase their revenue from permissions. The post Licensing Solutions for a Changing Publishing Industry appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Spotlight on African-American Children's Authors and Illustrators

Illustrators gathered on Thursday to talk about promoting children's books by African-Americans, and about striving toward a future where readers, writers, and publishers do not feel confined or limited by labels. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Inside BookCon: where literature lovers give hope to the industry

The convention’s throngs of teenagers prove there’s still an appetite for reading, raising spirits of publishers who are starting to realize the importance of fandomLast Saturday and Sunday at the Javits Center, on the far western edge of Manhattan, the newly popular book lovers’ convention,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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American booksellers at BEA: 'endangered' no more?

Citing 48 new regular member companies in the last year, the American Booksellers Association (ABA) leadership is declaring an end to a six-year crisis in US independent bookshops. At its annual meeting at BookExpo America in New York City on Thursday (28th May), c.e.o Oren J Teicher told the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Editors Buzz About Middle Grade Books

Editors gathered at BEA Friday morning to share their favorite middle-grade books for fall. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Love Is In the Air at Young Adult Editors' Buzz Panel

The books featured at the Young Adult Editors' Buzz Panel had love as a common theme: first love, forbidden love, love from beyond the grave, and, not to be outdone, deadly love. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Town Hall Forum: ‘Change Is Good’

BEA show director Steve Rosato responded to questions about this year’s midweek BEA conference, and noted, “Obviously this year was a lot different. We learned that the consumer piece doesn’t mix with the trade piece. Change is good.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Editors Build Library Buzz

Representatives from seven publishers were greeted on Thursday by a room packed with librarians eager to hear the big books of 2015. The session was the first of two AAP Librarian Book Buzz panels. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Coping with BEA’s Schedule Changes

BookExpo America shifts to midweek this year, running Wednesday through Friday rather than Thursday through Saturday as in years past. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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