Holt publishing

[Tom Stanton]

At 01:01 AM 6/25/97 -0400, John Pendergast wrote:
>I am curious about the demonization of the Henry Holt publishing
>company. I don't know much (read anything) about the publishing
>industry, but it does seem odd that Holt seems to be blaimed for any
>assumed "selling out" on the part of Pynchon. Are they any worst than
>other publishing companies that Pynchon has seemingly worked with in the
>past? (The plural in the last sentence reflects my ignorance about his
>publishing history)

I don't think Holt or TRP "sold out." Publishing is first & foremost a
business funded by sales, not endowments, grants, or gifts. The 
publisher need to generate a "buzz" in the press (& anywhere else
they can) about the author to generate sales. Back in 1963, TRP 
was a first novelist who could managed to duck the publicity machine
because a)he got rave reviews and b)the publicity environment we know
today was only just beginning. By 1967, COL49's publication was pro-
bably green lighted on the basis of "V." & TRP's short-story publishing,
which created its own buzz. Still no need (or desire) for the publisher to
promote a fellow who wasn't glamorous or a freak (aka hippie). By 1973,
GR has a buzz all its own--big, obscene, daring--and the mythos of the
obscure, unphotographed author was secure. In 1990, the "Vineland" 
buzz was "Tom's back!" and there were a lot of articles about the unphoto-
graphed recluse who was silent for 17 years, but has returned with his
book on the Regan era. Best seller (briefly) then off the charts. Now we come
to 1997. If I'm the Holt publicist I know I have no book tour, no TV, no
radio,
& only a book cover to promote. Buzz angle is then a fleeting glimpse of the
great recluse plus a huge multi-media campaign in print about this most
American of books, grand traditions, sweeping saga, sex (bodice ripper angle),
and so on. My guess is the author, in all instances, balanced his purest of
artistic intents with the publisher's more mundane needs because both 
parties wanted the books to sell as well as possible (they only hand you a
MacAurthur grants once). TRP is in the business of being one of the leading
American authors, which gives his books (all still in print) an evergreen 
status that a publisher would kill to have with other authors.