George Platt Brett
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| George Platt Brett, Jr. | |
| Born | 1893 Darion, CT |
|---|---|
| Died | 1984 Southport, CT |
| Nationality |  American |
| Occupation | Publisher |
| Known for | Publisher of Gone with the Wind |
| Spouse | Isabel Stevenson Yeomans |
| Children | George Platt Brett, III Bruce Yeomans Brett |
George Platt Brett, Jr. (1893-1984) served at Chairman of the American division of Macmillan Publishing and secured publishing rights to Gone With the Wind. [1]
Contents |
[edit] Biography
[edit] Career
George Brett started with Macmillan in 1913 as a traveling salesman and took over as President of Macmillan in 1931. Brett took over as chairman in 1936 after the death of his father, George Platt Brett, Sr.[2][3][4]
Brett is best known for having "scored one of publishing's all-time triumphs by gaining the rights to 'Gone With the Wind.' [5] The success of Gone with the Wind from 1935-1936 lead to bonuses of 18% to all employess at Macmillan. Additional literary success under Brett were Rachael Filed's "All This" and "Heaven Too" and Katleen Winsor's "Forever Amber."[6]. In addition, Brett published notable authors C. S. Lewis and Marianne Moore.[7]
In 1936, Brett agreed to publish Ayn Rand's book "We the Living".[8] Brett said "he did not know if they would make money on it or not, but that it was a novel that should be published."[9]
In 1944, following WWII, Brett fought efforts by the British Publisher Bureau to corner the American market for Bristish publishing houses.[10] In 1951, Brett bought the US division from London based Macmillan Publishing.[11]
Brett was succeeded by his son, Bruce Y. Brett in 1958.[12]
[edit] Military and Public Service
- From 1916 to 1919, he served with the Army on the Mexican border and then in France during World War I.
- Served as chairman of the book committee of the People-to-People Program United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower established in 1956.
- Serve on missions for the United States State Department in Latin America and postwar Germany.[13]
[edit] Memberships
- Founding member of the American Publishers Association
- Member of the Players Club[14]
[edit] Personal life
Brett was born in Darien, CT and attended the Salisbury School in his home state and the Collegiate School in New York. Brett was married to Isabel Stevenson Yeomans. [15] [16]
[edit] Bibliography
- "The role of books in inter-American relations" by George Platt Brett (Unknown Binding - 1943)
[edit] Additional Information
- Chronicles of Barabbas 1884-1934 By George H. Doran
- The House of Macmillan (1843-1943) by Charles Morgan
- The Structure of International Publishing in the 1990s By Fred Kobrak, Beth Luey
- New York Times article about George Brett's views on Tarriffs "Declare for Free Books: Publishers are opposed to Increased Duties", printed on January 18, 1897
- New York Times article "Stefansson a Hero to British Public: George P. Brett back from London with a glowing account of the Young Explorers Success, printed on April 13, 1913
- New York Times March 13, 1913 article about Brett book "Book publishing and its present tendencies"
[edit] Places with more information
- Pequot Library 720 Pequot Avenue, Southport, CT 06890 (203) 259-0346
- New York City Public Library 455 Fifth Avenue, 10016-0122. (212) 340-0849
[edit] References
- ^ Saxon, Wolfgang. "George P. Brett is dead at 91; Headed Macmillan Company", New York Times, February 15, 1984. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ James, Elizabeth (2002). Macmillan A Publishing Tradition. Palgrave Macmillan, 187. ISBN 0-333-73517-X.
- ^ Macmillan, Inc. - Company Profile. Retrieved on 2008-04-07.
- ^ Macmillan Company of Canada in the 1930s, The. Retrieved on 2008-04-17.
- ^ Saxon, Wolfgang. "George P. Brett is dead at 91; Headed Macmillan Company", New York Times, February 15, 1984. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ McKitterick, David. A History of Cambridge University press Volume III: New Worlds for Learning 1873-1972, 308.
- ^ Kobrak, Fred. The Structure of International Publishing in the 1990s, 31.
- ^ The Ayn Rand Institute: A Brief Biography of Ayn Rand
- ^ Mayhew, Robert (2004). Essay on Any Rand "We the living". Lexington Books, 139. ISBN 0739106988.
- ^ Ninkovich, Frank. The Diplomacy of Ideas: US Foreign Policy and Cultural Relations, 1938-1950, 89-90.
- ^ Crofter's Crop - TIME
- ^ Kobrak, Fred. The Structure of International Publishing in the 1990s, 31.
- ^ Saxon, Wolfgang. "GEORGE P. BRETT IS DEAD AT 91; HEADED MACMILLAN COMPANY", New York Times, February 15, 184. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ Garland, Hamlin. Roadside Meetings, 397.
- ^ Saxon, Wolfgang. "GEORGE P. BRETT IS DEAD AT 91; HEADED MACMILLAN COMPANY", New York Times, February 15, 184. Retrieved on 2008-04-19.
- ^ http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?res=9E05E2DA1F31E733A05757C1A96F9C946796D6CF
[edit] See also
| Preceded by George Platt Brett, Sr. |
Macmillan Publishing USA Chairman 1936–1958 |
Succeeded by Bruce Brett |
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