Why one children’s books editor turned down Roald Dahl titles | Letter

Sue Bradley on her conversation with the late Marni Hodgkin about the ‘malicious quality’ to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant PeachRe the letters criticising Roald Dahl’s works (Roald Dahl’s mean and nasty books don’t deserve all this attention, 23 February), in an oral history interview recorded for the British Library Sound Archive in 2002, the late great children’s books editor Marni Hodgkin told me that she had twice turned down both Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach, once at Hart-Davis and again at Macmillan. “You may be amazed they were at liberty for publishers to snap up,” she said (I was). But the books had “a malicious quality” that she did not want to put her name to. “In that, I showed my very deficient business sense, but I have never regretted it,” she said.Sue BradleyCorbridge, Northumberland• Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our Letters section. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2023-03-01 17:24:42 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Why one children’s books editor turned down Roald Dahl titles | Letter"


Kate Figes dies from cancer, aged 62

Author and You Magazine books editor Kate Figes has died from cancer at the age of 62. Figes wrote two novels and six works of non-fiction, including 2018’s On Smaller Dogs and Larger Life Questions (Virago) which dealt with subjects including the diagnosis that her breast cancer had metastasised. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-10 01:54:33 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Daniel Mendelsohn’s ‘Ecstasy and Terror’ is a master class in criticism

The New York Review of Books editor tackles everything from Homer to “Game of Thrones.” Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-10-17 15:56:15 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Think you’ve read every twist on the nanny-in-distress novel? Ruth Ware adds a new wrinkle.

“The Turn of the Key” pays scrupulous homage to James’s “The Turn of the Screw” and also slyly updates it. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2019-08-08 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Carol Smith Succeeds Kevin O’Malley at Hearst | People on the Move

[caption id="attachment_161791" align="alignright" width="150"] Carol Smith[/caption] Carol Smith was promoted to SVP and publishing director of Harper’s Bazaar, Elle and Marie Claire, succeeding SVP, publishing director and CRO Kevin O’Malley, who is retiring. Smith most recently served as the... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-07-11 16:33:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Condé Nast Pulls Investment from FarFetch Over Management Concerns| Industry Notes

Condé Nast Pulls Investment From FarFetch [caption id="attachment_161701" align="alignright" width="150"] José Neves[/caption] Condé Nast pulled its nearly $300 million investment in the London-based luxury fashion retail marketplace FarFetch, following concerns about the management of the... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2019-07-09 18:18:07 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The book industry isn't dead. That's just an excuse to keep salaries low

Poor working conditions for book editors are ingrained. It’s time for that to change – no matter how much we love our jobsBook editors love their jobs, perhaps more than the average worker. We work diligently with motivated and inspiring peers on projects we are proud of. You may not realise... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2019-03-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Is Big Tech Merging With Big Brother? Kinda Looks Like It

The all-seeing Amazon, Google, and Facebook have every incentive to help the national security state undermine privacy, free speech, and democracy. We’ve read this book before. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2019-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Netflix adapts Dahl's stories for original animated series

Netflix will create an original animated series of Roald Dahl stories including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The BFG and The Twits. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-11-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Books: The Beastie Boys' memoir, fascinating fiction and more book news

Hello, readers! Welcome to this week’s books newsletter from the L.A. Times. I’m Carolyn Kellogg, our books editor, with the word on some fascinating new books. THE BIG REVIEW What was it like to start out in the punk rock scene, be fascinated by the birth of hip-hop and wind up superstars?... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Free speech: why editors can no longer publish and be damned | Emily Bell

Economic pressures and social media are forcing the media to think twice about upsetting readersBy the time the 130,000 regular readers of the New York Review of Books picked up their new copy of the literary journal last week, the cover story had already cost the editor Ian Buruma his job. In a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Books: National Book Award longlists, a fall preview and concern about ALOUD

Hi — I’m Carolyn Kellogg, books editor of the L.A. Times. This week in print you’ll find the Fall Arts Preview — books included. THE BIG BOOKS This fall brings books from Michelle Obama, Jonathan Franzen, Haruki Murakami, Michael Connelly, Stephen King and more; see our picks of books you won’t... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


James and the Giant Peach events planned for Roald Dahl Day

Penguin Random House Children’s and The Roald Dahl Story Company are planning a series of events based on James and the Giant Peach for this year’s Roald Dahl Day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-08-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Yes, graphic novels are thriving. (Well done, Booker) | Rachel Cooke

Comic book Sabrina by Nick Drnaso is on the longlist for the prize, but it’s just the latest in a fine traditionHow am I supposed to feel about the fact that for the first time a graphic novel has made it on to the Booker longlist? As someone who loves comics, and who has championed them in this... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-07-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Books: Raymond Chandler rebooted, a true view of Appalachia and more

Hi, I’m Carolyn Kellogg, books editor of the L.A. Times, with the news in books this week. THE BIG STORY Raymond Chandler’s iconic private detective Philip Marlowe has been rebooted before, not particularly successfully, which made Lawrence Osborne reluctant, at first, to take the case. But as... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-07-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Books: True crime, Terrance Hayes and more book news

Welcome to the Books newsletter from the L.A. Times! I’m Carolyn Kellogg, Books editor, with the latest. THE BIG STORY Bestselling novelist Megan Abbott, known for her psychological thrillers like “Dare Me,” explores the allure of true crime, books like Michelle McNamara’s “I”ll Be Gone in the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Books: Rachel Cusk, the long literary life of the Replacements and more book news

Hi, all! Carolyn Kellogg, books editor here, back from a trip to Helsinki, Stockholm and Paris with the not-at-all groundbreaking news that these are delightful cities. Yes, I shopped at Paris’ Shakespeare and Company, but not enough — when decided I needed to return for more books, I couldn’t... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Books newsletter: Barry Gifford, Book Festival news, calligraphy for Nowruz and more

Good morning! I’m Carolyn Kellogg, books editor of the L.A. Times, with this week’s newsletter. THE BIG STORY Barry Gifford is famous for his tales of outsiders, including Sailor and Lula in “Wild at Heart.” Jim Ruland sits down with the author in his Berkeley studio to talk about his... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Childrens Books in China 2018: Untangling the Import Issues (and Rumors)

As of today, Peppa Pig remains a bestseller in China. Winnie the Pooh continues to sell, and so does Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. There has been no restriction on these titles or on other foreign publications and translations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-03-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Books: Walter Mosley, Thomas McGuane and more book news

Hello! This week in books, things are a bit quiet, and in print, we gave a page to our colleagues in film for our Academy Awards coverage. I’m Carolyn Kellogg, books editor, and this week’s newsletter will be a quick one. THE BIG REVIEW Walter Mosley is widely known for his Easy Rawlins series,... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-03-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


City A M launches monthly book review section

City A M has launched a monthly book review section and appointed Francesca Washtell as its books editor. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this