Norton Acquires Berkshire House
by Judith Rosen -- Publishers Weekly, 8/11/2003
W.W. Norton, which has made few acquisitions in the trade market, has acquired the assets of Berkshire House Publishers. Berkshire, which was based in Lee, Mass., will become part of Norton's Countryman Press division in Woodstock, Vt. Countryman editorial director Kermit Hummel anticipates that the 13-year-old press, which specializes in regional titles and is best known for its Great Destinations travel series, will be a good fit."
"The acquisition is part of generally growing the Countryman list. They do a lot of the same kind of publishing we do," Hummel told PW. Berkshire has a backlist of about 50 active titles, and Countryman will retain the Berkshire House name as an imprint. In addition to adding to Countryman's New England guides, the Berkshire list will extend the regions that Countryman represents through its Explorer's Guide travel series and its books on outdoor activity."
Berkshire House published about five books a year and had a staff of four. National Book Network will continue to represent Berkshire House through the end of October, when Norton will assume fulfillment.
