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'


UK Independent Publishers Call for Bolder Experiments

Signs from the UK Independent Publishers Guild conference signal a move toward bolder experiments with with content, DRM, and engagement to foster a brighter future. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Online Publisher’s Association Announces New Executive Officers

The Online Publisher’s Association (OPA) announced its incoming executive officers for the 2014-2016 term, including FT.com managing director Rob Grimshaw as chairman. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2014-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #online publisher #executive officers


Challenges and Rewards in Small Press Publishing: An AWP Panel

The panel centered on broadening audiences for independent literature while working under budgeting constraints in an oversaturated market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Alison Bechdel's memoir 'Fun Home' runs into trouble with the South Carolina House of Representatives

After the College of Charleston assigned the graphic memoir 'Fun Home' as summer reading, members of the South Carolina House of Representatives voted to cut funding to the school. The budget will be decided on by the general assembly in March. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-03-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #graphic memoir #representatives voted #fun home #summer reading


Premiership rugby: Sun and Times subscribers get online and mobile clips

News UK extends digital sport offering beyond Premier League and Champions League football, with BT retaining TV rightsSun and Times publisher News UK has snapped up the online and mobile clip rights to Aviva Premiership rugby, bolstering its online sports content following its aquisition of... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #mike darcey #commercial director


German Author Christoph Hein Honors US Publisher Sara Bershtel

In this speech, German author Christoph Hein examines the importance of literature and honors Metropolitan Books' publisher Sara Bershtel for her work in bringing German literature to the USA. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Podcast: Apple Looking To Buy Time In E-Book Case

In a federal courtroom in Manhattan, attorneys for Apple in its ebook price-fixing case are offering up lessons in creative legal maneuvering. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #buy time #e-book case


Audible Lowers Royalty on Self-Published Audiobooks

Amazon-owned audiobook retailer Audible is lowering the royalty rates it pays authors who self-publish, and exclusively sell, their audiobooks through the website. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #self-published audiobooks #royalty rates


Usborne, Nosy Crow, Summersdale winners at Independent Publishing Awards

Children's publishers Usborne Publishing and Nosy Crow won two awards each at tonight's (... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nosy crow


Two Digital Executives Leaving Time Inc.

Fran Hauser and John Cantarella, two top digital executives at Time Inc., are leaving the company ahead of its spinoff, each said this week.Ms. Hauser has spent 10 years with the publisher, rising to digital president of Time Inc.'s Style and Entertainment Group, which included People,... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital president #entertainment group #entertainment weekly #recent reorganization #sports group


Indian STM Publishing Worth $200m, 20% Growth, 2% Ebooks

A snapshot of STM publishing in India, which represents 84% of the publishing industry's profits in the country, from this February's GLOBALOCAL conference. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #20% growth #stm publishing #publishing industry #globalocal conference


How Busy People Make Time To Read--And You Can Too

Haven't finished a book since college? Between work, family, and social lives, trying to find time to read can be more effort than relaxing hobby. Here's how to make more time for your favorite page-turners.Reading is one of the most pleasurable activities out there. On a scale of human... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #find time #reference book


Stephen Page: Publishers need 'permanent conversation with consumers'

"There are a lot of people doing a lot of things we used to do," Stephen Page told the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-02-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stephen page


Does Winning a Literary Award Lead to Negative Reviews?

A new study reports that after a book wins an award its social media ratings tend to dip. The Guardian explains why. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #negative reviews


Explaining Australia’s Fair Use Publishing Conundrum

We look at what would the proposed introduction of fair use to Australian copyright law mean for publishers, and why is it attracting international attention. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Publishing for All Seasons

A bookseller, distributor, and publisher, gathered for another installment of PW's discussion series on the Future of Book Publishing to discuss the relevancy of publishing seasons. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publishing #discussion series


Quarto rebrands publishing divisions, records 'solid' 2013

The Quarto Group has rebranded its publishing divisions, and announced what c.e.o. Marcus Leaver... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #quarto group #publishing divisions #marcus leaver


Reviews of New and Forthcoming Religion and Spirituality Books, February 2014

Jim Martin's book about Jesus gets a starred review; Kerry Weber's first book takes mercy to the streets. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-02-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #forthcoming religion #spirituality books #starred review


Bringing Tools of the Trade to Self-Publishing

In Publishing Perspectives' Issues on the Ether, Porter Anderson asks #EtherIssue participants to focus on tools needed by entrepreneurial authors. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Surprise: men still greatly outnumber women in US and UK arts publications | Soraya Chemaly

Sexism is real and it spills over to our most influential cultural publications. How many times do we have to call for change?Today, as they have every year since 2009, VIDA: Women in The Literary Arts, an organization dedicated to gender parity in the literary arts, released its annual count... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #journalism school