Pearson confirmed today that it is in talks with giant publisher Bertelsmann regarding a possible merger between imprints Penguin and Random House. Such a move will be the first major structural shift in the global publishing industry since 2006 when the French media firm Lagardere acquired Time Warner Book Group creating Hachette. In a statement the UK listed group said 'Pearson confirms that it is discussing with Bertelsmann a possible combination of Penguin and Random House' although the two companies have yet to reach agreement. This news is perhaps not surprising as it follows Penguin's recent announcement that they would seek to recover unearned advances from their top writers. Better news for the imprint is that two of their books are currently in the top ten - Martin Jacques study of the growing economic power of China When China Rules the World:the End of the Western World (reviewed in The Guardian 21 June 2009) and The Better Angels of Our Nature by cognitive scientist Steven Pinker who argues that violence has declined in the modern world (reviewed in the Guardian 7 October).
The Stella Prize
Australia has launched a $50,000 prize for women's writing which will be called the Stella Prize.
Waterstones to sell Kindle devices
In the UK, bookshop chain Waterstones has decided to sell Amazon's Kindle e-reading devices in recognition of the influence of the new technology on the book market. Kindles went on sale in their stores from yesterday.
No comments:
Post a Comment