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Biography: general, Biography: literary, Publishing industry & book trade
The captivating story of the famed publisher who transformed not only publishing but the culture of ideas, from his struggles as an Austrian-Jewish refugee in London to his rise as a world-renowned literary figure
A New York Times Critics' Pick for 2023
Born into a Jewish family in Vienna in 1919, George Weidenfeld fled to England in 1938 to escape the Nazi regime. There he began a career in publishing that would make him one of the most influential figures in the industry. Over the course of his long and illustrious career he championed some of the most important voices of the twentieth century, from Vladimir Nabokov, Mary McCarthy and Saul Bellow to Harold Wilson, Isaiah Berlin and Henry Kissinger.
But what do we know about the man himself? Was he, as described by some, the 'greatest salesperson', 'the world's best networker', 'the publisher's publisher' and 'a great intellectual'? Was his lifelong effort to be the world's most famous host a cover for his desperate loneliness? Who, in fact, was the real George Weidenfeld and how did he rise so successfully within the ranks of London and New York society? Providing a full, unvarnished and at times difficult history of this complex man, this first biography of a titan of culture is also a story of resilience, determination and the power of ideas to shape history.
More books by Thomas Harding
Praise for The Maverick: George Weidenfeld and the Golden Age of Publishing
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Anchors George Weidenfeld as one of the foremost influencers in modern literature . . . A treasure trove of insight and history
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A vivid account of publishing's glory years told through the action-packed life of one of its most charismatic pioneers
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George Weidenfeld was a titan of a man, an irresistible character and something of a genius. This book does him full justice
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THE MAVERICK recalls a champion of ideas with a knack for networking and a taste for the high life . . . an organizational feat - NEW YORK TIMES
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An entertaining biography . . . THE MAVERICK is packed with fascinating accounts of book deals and debacles during the 'golden age of publishing,' as well as plenty of high-society gossip - WASHINGTON POST
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Harding has fun detailing his subject's four marriages and associated romantic interludes . . . We're always on the edge, wondering if George, the cosmopolitan charmer who made it to the House of Lords, will pull another cracker from the hat - Daily Mail
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