Richard W. Seaver, founder and president of Arcade Publishing, passed away unexpectedly on January 5 after a heart attack. A memorial service will be announced in a few days. In lieu of flowers, Arcade reports they would be enormously grateful for any contributions to the PEN American Center. The NYT has an obituary today, calling him “an editor, translator and publisher who defied censorship, societal prudishness and conventional literary standards to bring works by rabble-rousing authors like Samuel Beckett, Henry Miller, William Burroughs and the Marquis de Sade to American readers.” In other personnel news, Lerner Publishing Group has hired […]
Obituary
Bookseller Glenn Goldman Dies
The founder and owner of the West Hollywood independent bookstore Book Soup Glen Goldman died on Saturday at 58 of pancreatic cancer. Goldman founded the store in 1975. LAT book editor David Ulin posted a personal remembrance on the book section’s blog. Separately, LA Observed reported right before Goldman’s death that “staffers and friends of Sunset Strip fixture Book Soup are contacting potential buyers.” They add that, “judging by emails circulating in L.A. book circles, the search has become urgent in recent days.” The LAT’s obituary reports that Goldman decided to sell the store on Friday. But Book Soup general […]
People
Former Rodale Books editor-in-chief and then president Tami Booth Corwin has joined SparkPeople.com as evp of publishing and content, just as the company has struck their first book deal with Hay House. Agent Elise Proulx notes that her new job will be marketing and outreach coordinator for the eScholarship Publishing Group at the California Digital Library (CDL), University of California. Lori Burke will move over from DK to Penguin Children’s next week in the dual role of director of licensing for Grosset & Dunlap/Price Stern Sloan and US brand manager for Warne Books (Beatrix Potter, Spot and Flower Fairies), managing […]
On John Leonard, 69
Former editor of the NYT Book Review during the 70s John Leonard, 69, died from complications of lung cancer. Most recently he was TV critic for New York Magazine and a book critic for Harper’s Magazine. “As a critic, Mr. Leonard was far less interested in saying yea or nay about a work of art than he was in scrutinizing the who, the what and the why of it. His writing opened a window onto the contemporary American scene, examining a book or film or television show as it was shaped by the cultural winds of the day. “Amid the […]
Michael Crichton Dies "Unexpectedly"
Michael Crichton’s family revealed his death at age 66 yesterday, saying that he had been “waging a private battle against cancer.” The family noted in their statement: “While the world knew him as a great storyteller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us — and entertained us all while doing so — his wife Sherri, daughter Taylor, family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes. He did this with a wry sense of […]
Studs Terkel Dies at 96
The AP was the first to report his passing on Friday. Among many honors, Terkel won the Pulitzer in 1985 for his remembrances of World War II, The Good War. Below are links to a few of the many articles about his life and work.Chicago Trib editorialWhy Terkel Mattered: Patrick Reardon in TribBob Minzesheimer at USATEdward Rothstein: An appraisal, NYTNYT Obit (William Grimes)LAT USAT