Big Fiction: How Conglomeration Changed the Publishing Industry and American Literature

The publishing industry underwent significant consolidation in the late 1950s and 1970s, leading to a transformation in the business of literature and literature itself. Dan Sinykin's book "Big Fiction" explores how these changes have affected fiction, literary form, and what it means to be an author. He examines four different sectors of the publishing industry, including mass-market books, trade publishers, nonprofits, and employee-owned W. W. Norton, and emphasizes how women and people of color navigated shifts in publishing. The book also features dazzling readings of a vast range of novelists and vivid portraits of industry figures.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 24 October 2023
Publisher: Columbia University Press

In the late 1950s,Random House editor Jason Epstein would engage in lively conversations about jazz with Ralph Ellison or have casual chats with Andy Warhol while serving drinks in his office. However, by the 1970s, the focus of editors had shifted significantly towards analyzing profit-and-loss statements. In 1965, the electronics company RCA acquired Random House, marking the beginning of a trend where other large corporations would go on to purchase other formerly independent publishers. As multinational conglomerates consolidated the industry, the landscape of literature and literature itself underwent a profound transformation.

To delve into the impact of these changes on fiction, literary form, and the author's role, Dan Sinykin offers an insightful exploration. Providing a behind-the-scenes look at the daily routines, personal dramas, and institutional crises within the publishing industry, Sinykin unveils how conglomeration has shaped the types of books and writers that are published. He examines four distinct sectors within the publishing industry: mass-market books by brand-name authors such as Danielle Steel; trade publishers that encouraged genre elements in literary fiction; nonprofit organizations like Graywolf that aimed to safeguard literature from market pressures; and the unique niche of employee-owned W. W. Norton. Sinykin emphasizes how women and people of color navigated the shifting tides in publishing, highlighting how writers like Toni Morrison allegorized their experiences in their fiction.

Big Fiction is a captivating anthology that features dazzling readings of a wide array of novelists, including E. L. Doctorow, Judith Krantz, Renata Adler, Stephen King, Joan Didion, Cormac McCarthy, Chuck Palahniuk, Patrick OBrian, and Walter Mosley. Additionally, the book offers vivid portraits of industry figures, painting a vivid picture of the past six decades of American fiction. Written in gripping and lively prose, this deeply original work recasts the history of American fiction in a fresh and compelling light.

In conclusion, the publishing industry has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past several decades, driven by the consolidation of multinational conglomerates. This shift has had a profound impact on fiction, literary form, and the author's role. By examining the various sectors within the industry and highlighting the experiences of women and people of color, Sinykin's book provides a valuable insight into the complex dynamics that shape the world of literature. Big Fiction serves as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the resilience of the human spirit.

Weight: 610g
Dimension: 163 x 243 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231192941