Canadian publisher House of Anansi will restructure its leadership and board of directors, effective October 31. President Semareh Al-Hillal will depart the company. She was named publisher of the children’s division Groundwood in 2018 and became president of House of Anansi in 2020. Anansi publisher Karen Brochu and Groundwood publisher Karen Li will take over responsibility for each division. The company will form a new five-member board comprising: owner and chairman Scott Griffin; author and art director at The New York Review of Books Leanne Shapton; Flying Books publisher and former House of Anansi publisher Martha Sharpe; publisher of Sutherland House […]
Archives for October 2025
Laszlo Krasznahorkai Wins Nobel For Literature
Hungarian writer László Krasznahorkai won the 2025 Nobel Prize for literature, “for his compelling and visionary oeuvre that, in the midst of apocalyptic terror, reaffirms the power of art.” The Swedish Academy writes, “László Krasznahorkai is a great epic writer in the Central European tradition that extends through Kafka to Thomas Bernhard, and is characterised by absurdism and grotesque excess. But there are more strings to his bow, and he also looks to the East in adopting a more contemplative, finely calibrated tone.” Krasznahorkai’s works include Satantango, The Melancholy of Resistance, and Herscht 07769. Most of his best-known books have […]
MacArthur Fellowship
“Chaos” at B&T as Ingram Adds Staff in Light of Impending Closure
After this week’s announcement of Baker & Taylor’s impending closure, multiple sources have used one descriptor for the situation at the company: “chaotic.” Staffers, even those in supervisory positions, report that they do not have any information about what the “wind down” of the company will look like. It is unclear whether books are still shipping to accounts, whether customers will get refunds, or whether books will be returned to publishers. Employees also don’t have language or information to relay to their customers. B&T has not responded to PL’s requests. According to a memo received by staff on Monday, layoffs […]
Harper UK Apologizes to Melania Trump
Right after the announcement of the abrupt resignation of longtime Harper UK ceo Charlie Redmayne, the company has apologized on social media to Melania Trump over “unverified claims” in Andrew Lownie’s ENTITLED: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE HOUSE OF YORK. In August, shortly after the book was published, the publisher removed the passages in question after Trump threatened to sue them, saying, “We can confirm that several passages from Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York by Andrew Lownie have been removed in consultation with the author.” Lownie had alleged that Jeffrey Epstein “facilitated” Donald Trump meeting Melania. There […]
Princeton University Press Acquires Island Press
Princeton University Press has acquired environment-focused publisher Island Press. Effective January 1, PUP will manage all publishing and rights responsibilities for Island Press publications, including its backlist. PUP director Christie Henry says, “Island Press books have influenced policy, informed global public debate, and empowered individuals and organizations to take action toward a more sustainable, healthier future. Princeton University Press is incredibly grateful and excited to now be a part of that future, and to unite the missions of PUP and Island Press in symbiotic support of the ongoing resilience of ecosystems of knowledge.” Island Press president and publisher David Miller […]