Am I wrong that Basic used to have, way back, a somewhat conservative profile? I think these stresses are partly a problem of consolidation. When there were more independent publishers, books could hash out their differences in the marketplace and people could work in places they felt they could support, though a seasoned publisher would usually have some breadth of representation and staff could live with that as part of the mission. I think they’ve started to create these hived-off imprints partly to avoid these staff revolts down the line and also to market more nichely, as seems to be the trend (as the election demonstrates, Joe Rogan and all that) …
As I remember it was started by psychoanalysts and Irving Kristol was an editor there in the 60s, kind of shaped its original nf list as he moved rightward
This is a great doc about that generation. There’s a wonderful quote in there, about five magazines in, when someone says something like, “What do you do when you want to create a movement? You start a magazine!” https://www.pbs.org/arguing/
Two issues I wanted to mention here--the first, as I think you've touched on in other newsletters: the rise of the celebrity memoir, whatever the political stripe, has left less money to spend on "riskier" publishing endeavors.
Secondly and related, I hadn't heard of Basic's new imprint. I am a fan of Basic Books--I worked on a couple dozen Basic Books in house while at Perseus and have a few dozen on my shelves. I admired the scholarship that goes into their trade nonfiction and the impeccable editing, especially on Lara Heimert's books. I worked on books as diverse as By the Rivers of Water by Erskine Clarke that chronicled with deep empathy the life of Protestant missionaries to One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America by Kevin Kruse. My partner deeply appreciated What We Knew, a oral history of life in Nazi Germany and recently picked up How We Got Here, a book on the seventies by David Frum.
I mention the title and content and authors of these books because I question why Basic wanted to open a specifically conservative imprint. It seemed like they published a range of topics and viewpoints as it was. And so I understand why this development--as well as the timing of this announcement--has some current workers questioning and protesting as well. Specifically in regard to Basic Books, I wouldn't view these employees concerns in their letter as attempts at censorship but as intelligent people questioning the curatorial decisions of their publishing company. Of course, as you know, curating can be used to censor, but there is also a difference between the two.
It will be interesting to see whether Spence continues to champion conservative celebrity memoirs, as he seems to have done at Regence, or whether he upholds Basic's legacy of trade books that engage with scholarship.
I too was gutted about the change in direction for Basic, as they do so many books I, like you, really value. I expect the imprint wasn't doing well financially? I was surprised people seemed to think the decision to launch it happened the day after the election, as opposed to the announcement. It takes longer to a day to create, hire, and launch a new imprint!
I agree the employee letters protesting are not acts of censorship (and as you know I did not say they were). It is also not an act of censorship to say you won't have your book translated and published in another country. That's an individual decision and everyone gets to make those.
And yeah the focus on celebrity seems key to understanding much about big 5 publishing right now.
I did kind of view Rooney's choice as censorship--but you're right; it technically isn't either. Not a choice I'd make but I understand wanting to do something to protest and choosing that route because that was within your power/you're a famous author.
The virtual “book burning” among the Left is not surprising. One of the Left’s gurus, Marxist Herbert Marcuse advocated suppressing the free speech rights of the right. It’s unfolding before our very eyes.
Am I wrong that Basic used to have, way back, a somewhat conservative profile? I think these stresses are partly a problem of consolidation. When there were more independent publishers, books could hash out their differences in the marketplace and people could work in places they felt they could support, though a seasoned publisher would usually have some breadth of representation and staff could live with that as part of the mission. I think they’ve started to create these hived-off imprints partly to avoid these staff revolts down the line and also to market more nichely, as seems to be the trend (as the election demonstrates, Joe Rogan and all that) …
I always thought of Basic as sort of Norton-y, a place for serious nonfiction.
Consolidation mires so many gestures to protest/judge/take a stance in contradiction, that's for sure.
As I remember it was started by psychoanalysts and Irving Kristol was an editor there in the 60s, kind of shaped its original nf list as he moved rightward
This is a great doc about that generation. There’s a wonderful quote in there, about five magazines in, when someone says something like, “What do you do when you want to create a movement? You start a magazine!” https://www.pbs.org/arguing/
Lol. Also I had no idea about Kristol. I demand a good history of Basic!
Two issues I wanted to mention here--the first, as I think you've touched on in other newsletters: the rise of the celebrity memoir, whatever the political stripe, has left less money to spend on "riskier" publishing endeavors.
Secondly and related, I hadn't heard of Basic's new imprint. I am a fan of Basic Books--I worked on a couple dozen Basic Books in house while at Perseus and have a few dozen on my shelves. I admired the scholarship that goes into their trade nonfiction and the impeccable editing, especially on Lara Heimert's books. I worked on books as diverse as By the Rivers of Water by Erskine Clarke that chronicled with deep empathy the life of Protestant missionaries to One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America by Kevin Kruse. My partner deeply appreciated What We Knew, a oral history of life in Nazi Germany and recently picked up How We Got Here, a book on the seventies by David Frum.
I mention the title and content and authors of these books because I question why Basic wanted to open a specifically conservative imprint. It seemed like they published a range of topics and viewpoints as it was. And so I understand why this development--as well as the timing of this announcement--has some current workers questioning and protesting as well. Specifically in regard to Basic Books, I wouldn't view these employees concerns in their letter as attempts at censorship but as intelligent people questioning the curatorial decisions of their publishing company. Of course, as you know, curating can be used to censor, but there is also a difference between the two.
It will be interesting to see whether Spence continues to champion conservative celebrity memoirs, as he seems to have done at Regence, or whether he upholds Basic's legacy of trade books that engage with scholarship.
Thanks for this, Rachel.
I too was gutted about the change in direction for Basic, as they do so many books I, like you, really value. I expect the imprint wasn't doing well financially? I was surprised people seemed to think the decision to launch it happened the day after the election, as opposed to the announcement. It takes longer to a day to create, hire, and launch a new imprint!
I agree the employee letters protesting are not acts of censorship (and as you know I did not say they were). It is also not an act of censorship to say you won't have your book translated and published in another country. That's an individual decision and everyone gets to make those.
And yeah the focus on celebrity seems key to understanding much about big 5 publishing right now.
I did kind of view Rooney's choice as censorship--but you're right; it technically isn't either. Not a choice I'd make but I understand wanting to do something to protest and choosing that route because that was within your power/you're a famous author.
The virtual “book burning” among the Left is not surprising. One of the Left’s gurus, Marxist Herbert Marcuse advocated suppressing the free speech rights of the right. It’s unfolding before our very eyes.