George Platt Brett, Sr.

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For his son, see George Platt Brett, Jr.
George Platt Brett, Sr.
Born 1859
Died 1936
Nationality Flag of the United KingdomBritish
Occupation Publisher
Known for Publisher of Jack London
Children George Platt Brett, Jr.
Claire L. Brett Kinney
Richard M Brett

George Platt Brett, Sr. (1859-1936) was a chairman and publisher of the American division of Macmillan Publishing. He was best known for serving as publisher, friend, and mentor of American author Jack London.[1] Under Brett's leadership, Macmillan became one of the largest publishers in America. Sales grew from $50,000 in 1890 and grew to $8.5 million in 1931. In 1931, Macmillan annuals produced between 600 - 700 titles.[2]

Contents

[edit] Career

[edit] Early Career

In 1874 George Platt Brett, joined the MacMillan as a traveling salesman, then succeeded his father, George Edward Brett, in the American office in New York in 1887.[3] George E. Brett of England started the New York branch of Macmillan Publishing at Clayton Hall in 1869 under the recommendation of Alexander Macmillan (publisher).[4]

In 1890, the New York branch became an independent office and moved to Bond Street.[5]

[edit] Established control of Macmillan in America

In 1896, Brett was asked by the Macmillans to head the New York office. Brett instead insisted he become a parter in a new American corporation. “In 1896, the Macmillan house was divided into two newly established entities, The Macmillan Company in New York and Macmillan & Co., Ltd., of London. The two companies were both controlled by the Macmillan family (which retained about 61 percent of the American company's stock until the 1951 split); they freely shared titles and authors and made use of the company's worldwide network of sales branches established in the early twentieth century in such ports of call as Bombay (established 1901); Toronto (1904); Calcutta (1907); Melbourne (1912); and Madras (1913). Nevertheless, the creation of a separate company in New York was destined to have profound implications for the house of Macmillan, as the American organization outstripped its parent and eventually required complete independence at mid-century.” [6]

[edit] Publisher of American Authors

Brett, though a native of Great Britain, was an advocate for American authors.[7]

During his tenure, Brett published Winston Churchill's novel “Richard Carvel” in 1899, Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" in 1904, Jack London’s “The Call of the Wild”, William Butler Yeats, and F. Marion Crawford’s “Sacracinesca”.[8][9][10]

George Doran called Brett an "Emperor among publishers."[11]

Brett is credited with the identification and success of Jack London.[12] In a letter to Jack London, dated 27 Dec 1901, "Brett said he believe Jack's fiction represented 'the very best kind of work ' done in America and he wanted to publish all his future writings." [13]

Brett also was influential in the success of Winston Churchill (novelist). Churchill once observed Brett "has an undoubted genius for publishing, but he possesses likewise the higher genius of friendship." [14]

[edit] Legacy in America

Led by Brett The Macmillan Co. emerged to a p position of prominence in American publishing by the 1930s becoming "the first American publisher to open branch offices across the country . . . Between 1895 and 1909 such semi-independent branches were established in Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, and San Francisco.” [15]

The Brett's remained in control of the American offices of Macmillan from its creation in 1869 to the early 1960s, “a span matched by few other families in the history of United States business.”[16]

[edit] Personal life

Brett lived in New York at 267 West End Avenue, New York, New York. [17]

[edit] Bibliography

  • "Treasury tax-free bonds" by George Platt Brett (Unknown Binding - 1928)
  • "Book publishing and its present tendencies" by George Platt Brett (Unknown Binding - 1914)
  • "A plea for the abolition of the duty on books: To which is added some remarks on the present rulings of the customs officials in the administration of ... in part from 'The New York Evening post' " by George Platt Brett (Unknown Binding - 1903)
  • "Why imported books cost so much,: How the Treasury defeats the intent of Congress" by George Platt Brett (Unknown Binding - 1927)

[edit] Additional Resources

  • Chronicles of Barabbas 1884-1934 By George H. Doran
  • The House of Macmillan (1843-1943) by Charles Morgan

[edit] References

  1. ^ James, Elizabeth (2002). Macmillan A Publishing Tradition. Palgrave Macmillan, 170-71. ISBN 0-333-73517-X. 
  2. ^ Kobrak, Fred. The Structure of International Publishing in the 1990s, 31. 
  3. ^ "George Platt Brett", New York Times, March 13, 1897. Retrieved on 2008-04-19. 
  4. ^ Crocker, Samuel (1893). The Literary World. E. H. Hames and Company, 276. 
  5. ^ Crocker, Samuel (1893). The Literary World. E. H. Hames and Company, 276. 
  6. ^ Macmillan: Information and Much More from Answers.com
  7. ^ Dreiser, Theodore. Jennie Gerhardt. University of Pennsylvania, 423. 
  8. ^ Saxon, Wolfgang. "GEORGE P. BRETT IS DEAD AT 91; HEADED MACMILLAN COMPANY", New York Times, February 15, 184. Retrieved on 2008-04-19. 
  9. ^ Pizer, Donald. The Cambridge Companion to American Realism and Naturalism: From Howells to London. Cambridge University Press, 250-251. 
  10. ^ James, Elizabeth (2002). Macmillan A Publishing Tradition. Palgrave Macmillan, 201. ISBN 0-333-73517-X. 
  11. ^ Doran, George (1935). Chronicles of Barabbas, 1884-1934. Harcourt Brace and Company, 187. 
  12. ^ Jack London (1943) - Full cast and crew
  13. ^ Kershaw, Alex (1999). Jack London: A Life. St. Martin's Griffin, 109. ISBN 031219904X. 
  14. ^ Kershaw (1999). Jack London: A Life. St. Martin's Griffin, 110. ISBN 031219904X. 
  15. ^ Macmillan: Information and Much More from Answers.com
  16. ^ Macmillan: Information and Much More from Answers.com
  17. ^ http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9F04E2DA1730E233A25752C0A9679C946196D6CF

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

Preceded by
none		 Macmillan Publishing USA Chairman
1936–1958		 Succeeded by
George Platt Brett, Jr.
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