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

The publishing industry has transformed significantly since the late 1950s, with multinational conglomerates consolidating the industry and changing the business of literature. Dan Sinykin's book "Big Fiction" explores how these changes have affected fiction, literary form, and what it means to be an author. He emphasizes how women and people of color navigated shifts in publishing, and features dazzling readings of a vast range of novelists and vivid portraits of industry figures.

Format: Paperback / softback
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. This consolidation of the publishing industry led to a profound transformation in the business of literature and in literature itself.

To delve into the impact of these changes on fiction, literary form, and the author's role, Dan Sinykin offers an insightful exploration. Through his detailed account, he provides a behind-the-scenes look at the daily routines, personal dramas, and institutional crises that shape the publishing industry. Sinykin 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. He highlights how women and people of color navigated these shifts, arguing that writers like Toni Morrison allegorized their experiences in their fiction.

Big Fiction is a captivating collection of dazzling readings from a diverse range 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 engaging and lively prose, this original work recasts the history of American fiction in a fresh and insightful manner.

In conclusion, the transformation of the publishing industry in the late 20th century has had a profound impact on fiction, literary form, and the author's role. The consolidation of multinational conglomerates has led to a shift in the business of literature, shaping what kinds of books and writers are published. Dan Sinykin's book, Big Fiction, provides an insightful exploration of these changes, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the industry's daily routines, personal dramas, and institutional crises. Through his examination of four distinct sectors within the publishing industry and his focus on how women and people of color navigated these shifts, Sinykin sheds light on the ways in which conglomeration has shaped the past six decades of American fiction.

Weight: 506g
Dimension: 155 x 235 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231192958