The Art of the Publisher by Roberto Calasso review – a timely insight into the identity of a publishing house

An important riposte to digital culture, these essays by the Italian publisher and author argue that a publisher’s list is a literary work in its own rightThis collection of essays by the Italian author and publisher Roberto Calasso, translated by Richard Dixon, is a paean to publishing. Calasso argues that the art of the publisher lies in nurturing a distinctive literary vision. Publishers like Kurt Wolff, who published authors such as Kafka and Robert Walser, understood that being a publisher was not just about marketing books but creating a “form”: all the books produced by a publisher are part of a “self-sufficient composition”. Blurbs, covers, layout, paper, typeface: all serve “to give form to a plurality of books as though they were the chapters of a single book”. In effect, the list of a publisher becomes a literary work in itself. But in an age of corporate mergers and digitisation, this is an endangered ideal.In part, these essays are memoirs of Calasso’s own experience creating the Biblioteca Adelphi and of the authors and publishers he has known. But what makes this slim text memorable is his sheer passion for books – not digital texts but physical objects, in which every part is designed to enhance the experience of reading. An important and timely book. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2016-02-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #single book #digital texts #physical objects #timely book

Other Publishing stories related to: 'The Art of the Publisher by Roberto Calasso review – a timely insight into the identity of a publishing house'


Chinese Publisher Brings Together Translators at New Event

The 1st International Communication Forum on Chinese Culture was held in Qingdao, China on August 24 and 25, bringing together dozens of translators and sinologists from all over the world. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Wearables Present a Huge Challenge to News Publishers, and That’s a Good Thing

In the early 90s people balked at the idea of reading the news on a computer, yet if you looked at online services of the day (Compuserve and AOL), user demand would say otherwise. News was consistently among the top activity. Eventually that same demand drove Web 1.0 and by the time Web 2.0... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-09-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #news publishers #good thing #online services


Publishers plead with twitchy social visitors to stay

As publishers continue to see more and more of their traffic coming from social referrers like Facebook and Twitter, they are increasingly forced to get creative about getting those readers to stick around on their sites -- to say nothing of coming back again. The post Publishers plead with... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers continue #coming back


Handy rebrands to be the name you remember for help around the house

On-demand cleaning and housework platform and iOS app Handybook has dropped the “book” from its name. It might not seem like a big deal, but CEO Oisin Hanrahan says the change will clear up some confusion. “People associated us with an actual, physical book,” he said. “We meant booking. They... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #big deal #yellow pages #ios app


Amarillo Globe-News Publisher Puts TV, Radio in Crosshairs

Local TV and radio broadcasters in Amarillo, Texas, consider yourselves on notice: the Amarillo Globe-News smells blood in the water and is coming after your business. That’s because Les Simpson, publisher of the Morris Communications-own ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2014-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


College Newspaper Drops Print, First to Operate Primarily on Publishing Platform Medium

Medium now has Substance. The popular publishing platform recently started hosting Substance, a new student publication at Mt. San Antonio College that doubles as a totally reinvented version of The Mountaineer campus newspaper. It is the first ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2014-09-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Art, Poetry, and Food Combine in Eric-Shabazz Larkin's 'A Moose Boosh'

In Eric-Shabazz Larkin's new collection of children's poetry, 'A Moose Boosh,' he combines playful and political poems about food and food culture with photographs "vandalized" with his own scribblings and doodles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Books donated to fire-hit art school

Glasgow School of Art replaces 22% of its most popular books that were lost in a fire at its Mackintosh building in June. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books donated #glasgow school #popular books


You’re using analytics wrong: five mistakes publishers make with their data

What do most people think of when they think of analytics? Metrics and measurement, mostly. Limiting analytics to just metrics and measurement limits what you can do. How does a publisher make the leap from metrics to action? Sponsor content by Parse.ly. The post You’re using analytics wrong:... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #data appeared #sponsor content


Johnson Steps Down as Red Wheel/Weiser Publisher

Jan Johnson, who has led the group since November 2000, will become publisher emerita. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #johnson steps


Publishers' portals look to inform authors

More than 700 authors and 75 agencies have registered for Random House’s Author Portal... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #random house #author portal


Brick Lane focus for publishers

Brick Lane continues to be a home of creativity, with the launch of independent publisher Brick... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-09-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Central American Publishers, Writers to Appear at Frankfurt Book Fair

Publishers from Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica will attend the Frankfurt Book Fair's International Rights Directors Meeting for the first time to showcase regional talent. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #costa rica


The Publishing Education of a Jersey Girl

Lauren Pizza, the quintessential Jersey Girl, turned around a memoir in four months, with boundless energy, the help of SkyHorse Publishing and a few psychics. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing education #boundless energy #skyhorse publishing


Kim Kelleher Named Publisher of Conde Nast's Wired

Kim Kelleher, the former president of digital publisher Say Media, was named VP-publisher of Wired magazine, parent company Conde Nast said Tuesday.The appointment marks a return to magazines for Ms. Kelleher, who was VP-publisher of Conde Nast's Self for six years before heading to Time Inc. in... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-09-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #conde nast #digital publisher #sports illustrated #global publisher #print sales #marketing staff #digital counterpart


Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, Sept. 10, 2014

American Academy of Religion recognizes excellence in scholarship; another big hit for Lysa TerKeurst. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short takes #american academy #big hit #lysa terkeurst


Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, September 10, 2014

Joel Osteen offers more encouragement in his newest book; James Carroll explores the meaning of Jesus for today. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #forthcoming religion #spirituality books #newest book


Why Don’t Publishers Fact Check Memoirs More Closely?

Writing for The Atlantic, Kate Newman wonders why memoirs aren't fact-checked more closely and questions whether a lack of resources is really to blame. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


East African Writers Embrace Self-publishing and Promotion

Author Aleya Kassam explains how Kenyan writers are embracing the idea of branding and taking control of their careers. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #taking control


Kenya’s Passionate Publishers Grow in Confidence, Influence

A coterie of aggressive, creative publishing houses are fighting to expand the literary horizons of Kenyans and bring their books to the world. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |