You do not need me to tell you that the economics of publishing literary fiction are difficult but, I hope you do not need me to tell that there are a whole slew of publishers in the UK and US, but also elsewhere, publishing superb works of fiction, usually on a shoestring. A couple of … Read more
The latest addition to my website is Eric Lane‘s Dante Alighieri’s Publishing Company. This book is a witty and colourful account of how Eric Lane, publisher of Dedalus Books, founded and ran Dedalus Books with the help of a few friends and his wife. He had been attending a novel-writing evening class and considered what … Read more
The latest addition to my website is Ana Schnabl‘s Mojstrovina (The Masterpiece). The novel is set primarily in 1985, five years after Tito’s death but with Slovenia still part of Yugoslavia and the communists in control. Adam, a university lecturer, has written a novel (called Masterpiece) which he has submitted to Ana, an editor at … Read more
I have pointed out several times that the most interesting books being published in translation into English are being published by small, independent publishers. While all parts of the book trade are being hit by Covid-19, the independent publishers, often run on a shoestring with few not very well paid staff, are being particularly hit. … Read more
I frankly find end of the year lists of best books a little tiresome. Firstly, all too often, authors plug the books of their friends, other authors with the same publisher/agent or authors who plug their books. UK satirical mag Private Eye is good at poking fun at these. Secondly, many of them seem to … Read more