The Swedish Publishers ‘ + FÖLJFramtida standard works with old and nyttCarl-Michael Edenborg reading an anthology of literature that will not fit in the mailbox 1 of 2 | Photo: Dan Hansson25 years have passed since the first part of the Johan Svedjedals works in literary history came out. But as expected on this sweet will not be disappointed, writes Carl-Michael Edenborg.Book reviews
1993 , was published in the professor and the litteratursociologen Johan Svedjedals tvåvolymers the Book’s society. Swedish bokförläggareföreningen and the Swedish book market 1887-1943. Since then it has Svedjedal written acclaimed studies of the Karin Boye , Robert , protestlitteratur and the journal Spectrum.
In twenty-five years we have been waiting for a continuation and a conclusion of his bokhistoriska standard works from 1993. But the one who waits for something good.
the in other words: The time: the Swedish publishers ‘ and the Swedish book market since 1943. As an early christmas present arrive the down – or rather, the bill has arrive down. There is not a chance that this thing penetrates through a brevlådespringa: an almost two kilos of heavy, 800 pages long, beautifully designed, hardcover volume with two lässidenband, in the spirit of christmas colors green and red.
Just to keep it in hand and let the pages whizz past get the mouth watering on a book lovers. The impression is not destroyed when you start to read. The big difference from enmansverket from 1993 to Svedjedal this called out a large number of other specialists on the history of the book, and centuries.
The learning have taken their time. So shall it be if it will be good. And it is in every way exemplary production. It is the result of old-fashioned förläggeri, in everything from authors to editors to designers and their efforts. Somewhat paradoxically, missing publishers, the book is published by the Publishers ‘ and is a rather unique cooperation between the country’s three förlagsjättar.
Svedjedal, the doyen of the history of the book, points out that it may seem paradoxical to designate the post-war period up to now as the books ‘ time, given all the discussions about reduced reading and a development from the book as a unique work of art to be among others. But this is relative news, and the real förlagskrisen – measured in terms of published titles, sales, publicity, etc. – that we are in the midst of, is also new, although the concept is old.
Self mature publishers (1993-2016), I read with interest about the latest decades, events and economic cycles: if in the 1990s pocketexplosion, if bokmomssänkningen, if the fixed bokprisernas the elimination, bankruptcy, mergers and chain-building.
1 of 2 | Photo: Björn ElgstrandPer I. give your.
the Authors of the articles in the anthology are all qualified scientists, and they have received free hands: Publishers ‘ obviously has no problem with the small publishers are taking their place in the story, although these rather have been members in their own Noff (Nordic independent publishers association) than in the Bonnierdominerade the Association. It had perhaps not been of course twenty years ago.
literature-Sweden had barely existed now without these little. The development, which is subscribed shows clearly that the litteraturkärleken and kvalitetsomsorgen with the years shifted from the larger to the smaller players. The Guillou called ”räknenissarna”, that is to say, the owners ‘ extended arm in the förlagsredaktionerna who cares if the profits before the content, has more to say on the literature, and the expense, although many other factors come into play.
Between the notförsedda, specialised articles you have put up interviews with key people, mainly förläggarrävar as the Per I. give your and Ann-Marie Sharp . This is a nice grip. It gives a qualitative picture that balances it who are happy to become the mainly quantitative studies: figures and statistics around such things as promotions, sales, number of reviews and litteraturstödets bad enumeration in relation to the rate of inflation.
Possibly the lack I international comparisons. This is a specialized study from many angles of a national book market. It would have been interesting to know in what ways the Swedish book history has resembled and differed from the neighbors around the globe.
But it is a slight reservation. Overall, leave this gargantuanska book me no choice than reservationslös admiration: Books time will for the foreseeable future be standardverket about the Swedish history of the book, after 1943.
