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

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Bologna 2014: E-Publishing and 'Nimble Thinking'

TOC Bologna may be no more, but book fair attendees had a chance to get several perspectives on the ongoing impact of changing technologies on children’s publishing at the fair's first Digital Rights Workshop. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Say Media Slows Payments to Publishers in Its Ad Network, Blames Advertisers

Say Media told publishers in its ad network that it will begin paying them on a 120-day payment schedule effective Apr. 1, slowing payment from an average of 85 to 90 days.The move is a response to similar slowdowns from marketers and agencies, the company told its publishing partners. Procter... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Content Aggregator Apps and Publishers: A Complicated Dynamic (Infographic)

Many publishers already have their own native apps, while others are in development. Although they can be expensive to launch, apps have helped some publishers establish a foothold within the mobile frontier. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2014-03-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NYT boss attacks Bloomberg for saying it shouldn't publish anti-China stories

Mark Thompson says New York Times journalism will remain impartial and won't be swayed by commercial considerationsMark Thompson, the chief executive of the New York Times, has hit out at rival Bloomberg for saying it shouldn't have published investigative news stories criticising China, because... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Comcast joins Time Warner Cable in Consumer Reports' doghouse

The merger partners are two of America's least favorite cable companies, according to the magazine's new survey.Merger partners Comcast Corp. and Time Warner Cable Inc. are two of America's least favorite cable companies, according to a new survey from Consumer Reports.     Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Apple, Publishers Battle New E-book Antitrust Claims

Two new suits were filed this month against Apple and the five major publishers involved in a 2010 ebook price-fixing conspiracy, raising the possibility of a new ebook antitrust battle involving aggrieved retailers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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5 charts that describe the state of digital publishing

In its 2013 State of the News Media report released today, Pew found that while digital publishers are clearly growing fast, they're going to need to grow a lot more to make up for the losses elsewhere. The post 5 charts that describe the state of digital publishing appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, March 26, 2014

Catholic priest Ronald Rolheiser examines late-life spirituality; scholar Michael Coogan offers a brief history of the Decalogue. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With 'Orphan Train,' Author Finds Bestsellerdom Fifth Time Around

Sixty thousand is the number of copies Christina Baker Kline thought her newest book, "Orphan Train," might sell in her "wildest dreams." For a midlist author on her fifth novel, it was a lofty number. It turns out, it was also way too low. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sara Miles: God, One City Block at a Time

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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What Marketers Should Know About Buying Publishers' Custom Audiences

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[ Advertising Age | 2014-03-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why top digital publishers are betting on data dashboards for reporters

A breakdown of which publishers share traffic data with their own writers -- and which don't.The post Why top digital publishers are betting on data dashboards for reporters appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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It's Complicated review – 'online space is teenagers' only public space'

This study of teenagers' social networking habits shows that's it's not technology they are 'addicted' to – it's friendship groupsForget the revelations about the NSA: one group in society has been living with surveillance for years. A group whose every move is tracked, whose freedom of movement... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Tolkien’s Translation of Beowulf To Be Published in May

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brands should welcome entry of news publishers' into content marketing

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[ The Guardian | 2014-03-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the belly of the viral-publishing beast, @ExMediaMan tells all

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[ Digiday | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Facts and Numbers on the Korean Book Market: Digital Publishing in Korea 2014

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Writing a First Novel: Reflections on the Journey – review

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[ The Guardian | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Here Come the K-books: Digital Publishing in Korea 2014

Consider these figures: This is the country with the fastest Internet speed in the world at 13.3 Mbps (against 8.7 Mbps in the U.S.), and 98% of its households have access to broadband Internet. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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To Tango, Flamenco and Samba: Penguin Random House Merger with Santillana

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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