After arriving in London just before the Second World War as a penniless and friendless Austrian-Jewish refugee, George Weidenfeld went on to transform not only the world of publishing but the culture of ideas. The books that he published include momentous titles such as Lolita, Double Helix, The Group and The Hedgehog and the Fox, with authors he championed ranging from Joan Didion, Mary McCarthy, Gold Meir and Edna O'Brien to Henry Miller, Harold Wilson, Saul Bellow and Henry Kissinger.
In this first biography, written with the support of the family, Thomas Harding provides a full, unvarnished and at times difficult history of this complex and fascinating character. Was he, as described by some, the 'greatest salesperson', 'the world's best networker', 'the publisher's publisher' and 'a great intellectual'? Or was he instead a 'swindler', a 'parvenu' or even a 'monster'? Was his life-long effort to be the world's best host a cover for his desperate loneliness? Who, in fact, was the real George Weidenfeld?
Drawing on author correspondence, internal memos and other documents buried deep in the secret publishing files of Weidenfeld & Nicolson, Harding provides an unprecedented look at how the publishing industry actually works. Structured around twenty books associated with George Weidenfeld, and intercut with explorations of contemporary concerns such as cancel culture, the right to publish, freedom of speech and separating the art from the artist, The Publisher is an illuminating account of a misunderstood character, providing fascinating insight into what makes a successful book and a successful publisher.
- ISBN10 1474621090
- ISBN13 9781474621090
- Publish Date 8 June 2023
- Publish Status Forthcoming
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Orion Publishing Co
- Imprint Weidenfeld & Nicolson
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 288
- Language English