Thanks, man! It was fun to write. I’ve got squirrelly little Cormac McCarthy story I’m working on now. I’ll probably post midweek. Need to wrap up a review first.
I think that’s mostly because it took leisured money to fund a publishing operation and manage the poor margins. It was an elevated hobby. Like the Houghton Mifflin exec said, there was nothing businesslike about the business. Then people like Allen Lane showed up and shook up all the old assumptions.
Interesting, especially about McCarthy. It reminds we writers that it’s often the Long Game, and most of us never make any real/much money. Labor of love, as they say. I dig your writing style. You communicate very clearly. Orwell would be proud.
I did a Cormac McCarthy essay on No Country for Old Men:
Thank you, Michael! That makes me happy to hear! And thanks for sharing your McCarthy essay. He was a singular talent. I’m glad a market existed that allowed his books to keep coming for so long. After his death, I’m thinking about everything I love in his work. I lost my copy of All the Pretty Horses. I just bought another; I’m looking forward to reading it again.
You will not be disappointed. And if you have not read Caro's utterly fascinating book on how he conducts research and does his writing, simply titled Working, I offer that as a second recommendation! :)
A most enlightening and well-crafted piece - thank you, Joel!
Thanks, Ray! Glad you liked it!
Man! This is a stellar one. Loved reading it. I want more!
Thanks, man! It was fun to write. I’ve got squirrelly little Cormac McCarthy story I’m working on now. I’ll probably post midweek. Need to wrap up a review first.
I love when you talk publishing. I always learn something.
Me too! Half the fun is digging in and learning something new. I didn’t really know anything about Richard Snyder until last week.
This was a great read. Thank you 🙏
My pleasure!
Fascinating. Thanks for this. In Britain too publishing used to be a family affair, as indeed was running a bookshop (which it often still is!)
I think that’s mostly because it took leisured money to fund a publishing operation and manage the poor margins. It was an elevated hobby. Like the Houghton Mifflin exec said, there was nothing businesslike about the business. Then people like Allen Lane showed up and shook up all the old assumptions.
Yes, sounds right. Over here (UK) we had "gentleman booksellers", same sort of thing
Interesting, especially about McCarthy. It reminds we writers that it’s often the Long Game, and most of us never make any real/much money. Labor of love, as they say. I dig your writing style. You communicate very clearly. Orwell would be proud.
I did a Cormac McCarthy essay on No Country for Old Men:
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/p/no-country-for-old-men
Michael Mohr
‘Sincere American Writing’
https://michaelmohr.substack.com/
Thank you, Michael! That makes me happy to hear! And thanks for sharing your McCarthy essay. He was a singular talent. I’m glad a market existed that allowed his books to keep coming for so long. After his death, I’m thinking about everything I love in his work. I lost my copy of All the Pretty Horses. I just bought another; I’m looking forward to reading it again.
The Turn Every Page documentary about the relationship between Pulitzer winning writer, Robert Caro and Gottlieb is absolutely sensational.
It’s on my list. I need to see that!
You will not be disappointed. And if you have not read Caro's utterly fascinating book on how he conducts research and does his writing, simply titled Working, I offer that as a second recommendation! :)
Many thanks! I’ve seen but haven’t picked it up yet. I’ll have to remedy that.
Great read, Joel! Thank you.
Very kind, Frederick. Thanks and glad you enjoyed it!