A Literary Buy by Bertelsmann
Herbert R. Lottman -- 7/6/98
In an unexpected twist, the Bertelsmann Book Group -- which in Germany has a decidedly commercial image -- is taking a majority stake in one of that country's most admired literary publishers, Berlin Verlag, founded in 1994 by Arnulf Conradi after his break with S. Fischer (a component of the Holtzbrinck group). When Conradi left Fischer, he took with him such authors as Richard Ford, Margaret Atwood and Nadine Gordimer, and has since added David Guterson (his biggest seller so far), Anne Michaels, James Salter and as many of their German peers as he has been able to sign up. No wonder the new arrangement is hailed by Bertelsmann Book president Frank Wossner as "a significant literary development" for his group.As part of the unique arrangement, Conradi continues as Berlin Verlag's publisher and takes over the same job from retiring Wolf Jobst Siedler at Siedler Verlag, another Berlin house controlled by Bertelsmann. Elisabeth Ruge, Conradi's wife, will continue as editor-in-chief, while Siedler keeps its own editor-in-chief, Frank Trumper (formerly with Broadway Books). Berlin Verlag has been doing some 50 new books a year (60% fiction), Siedler another 20 (all nonfiction). Back To News---> |
