Reginald Caton

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Reginald Ashley Caton (1897 -1971) was an English publisher, variously described as 'eccentric', 'raffish', a 'miser' and a 'rogue publisher'. He appears as a literary character, especially in novels by Kingsley Amis.

He founded in 1924 the Fortune Press, initially as a small press specialising in gay erotica. He was prosecuted in 1934 for obscene libel.

In the end, according to the standard bibliography, Caton had published 600 books, perhaps outgrowing the adjective 'small'. Many of these are of literary interest, produced by the circumstance that paper was in short supply as soon as World War II started; and Fortune Press had hoarded stocks. Much of the regular magazine publishing of poetry, in particular, had to shut down.

Caton is celebrated for obtaining the rights to Dylan Thomas's 18 Poems at this period, with repercussions for the poet. During the war years Caton rejected Philip Larkin's first novel Jill (for obscenity), but published his poetry collection The North Ship. He also published, for example, Nicholas Moore, and Wrenne Jarman. Experts have concluded that there was no literary, rather than business, consistency.

The Fortune Press was sold to Leonard Holdsworth, of The Charles Skilton Publishing Group.

[edit] Reference

• R. A. Caton and the Fortune Press. A Memoir and a Hand-List (1983) Timothy D'Arch Smith