At the time of overlooks founding, mayer was head of avon books, a large new yorkbased paperback publisher. From 1978 to 1996 he was ceo of penguin books, where he introduced a flexible style in editorial, marketing, and production. During his tenure, he was credited with reviving the company into the most formidable and admired publisher in the english language. Peter mayer 19362018 was an american independent publisher who was president of the overlook press peter mayer publishers, inc, a new yorkbased publishing company he founded with his father in 1971.
Peter mayer consolidating penguin books 6999 youtube. Peter mayer, publisher of the incendiary satanic verses. Charismatic publisher who combined erudition with commercial savvy to turn penguin books into a global brand published. We are deeply saddened by the passing of our forever colleague peter. As head of the penguin group, he weathered threats over the salman. Peter mayer, published the satanic verses obituary. After serving as publisher of pocket books from 1976 to 1978, pearson chose mayer to run its troubled penguin books. Many have come from onetime colleagues at penguin in. Peter joined penguin in 1978 after growing avon books. At penguin he fought and beat the warehouse workers unionthatcherism.
Handsome, charming and witty, he was also brave, defending the satanic verses, published by viking penguin, and refusing to go into hiding when a fatwa. In 1978 peter mayer, who has died aged 82, was drafted in from the us to rescue a moribund penguin books. His transition to penguin and the uk was not without challenges, however. Peter michael mayer was a britishborn american independent publisher who was president of the overlook press peter mayer publishers, inc. Heads turned when peter mayer appeared at the 1978 london book fair. Peter mayer has bought the assets and goodwill of the company from its liquidators after it. During mayers 1978 1997 tenure, penguin became a global player in trade publishing. We were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our former colleague peter mayer last week, whose long and brilliant leadership of penguin will always be part of the dna of penguin random house. Who is your fathers sports idol or your mothers rockstar in what town did grandpa grow up. Peter carson, who has died aged 74, was editorinchief at penguin from 1980 until 1998. In 1978, after a brief stint as publisher and president of pocket books, mr. Peter mayer, whose legendary publishing career spanned both sides of the atlantic, has died.
Peter mayer i just want to publish books 299 youtube. Peter spent fourteen years at avon at the height of the paperback era when, as he told us, you could slap a sexy cover on buddenbrooks and sell thousands of copies and two decades in london as chairman of penguin, a sleepy place until he got there in the late 70s. Publisher finds dream role as chief of smaller realm the. Peter mayer travelled tirelessly from one continent to another. In 1978, he was appointed ceo of penguin books in the uk, which was languishing at the time. He took the beloved but by then lossmaking publisher and turned it into a global brand, along the way transforming the publishing industry as a whole. During mayer s 1978 1997 tenure, penguin became a global player in trade publishing. The greatest publisher of his generation, mayer was also the most charismatic.
Peter mayer publisher politics at penguin books web. This photograph originates from a press photo archive. Peter mayer, former chairman and ceo of penguin group and founder of the overlook press, died in manhattan on friday, may 11. Penguin refused to withdraw the book, mayer claiming that to have done so. To listen to more of peter mayers stories, go to the playlist. The late peter mayer is remembered as the man who made the penguin group the worlds most admired and successful publishing company.
Duckworth, the independent publisher that printed books by virginia woolf and john bayleys memoir of wife iris murdoch, has been sold to a former head of penguin books. Peter joined penguin in 1978 after growing avon books into one of americas largest paperback publishers. Peter mayer, 82, ukborn publisher mostly w penguin. Peter michael mayer was born on march 28 1936 in hampstead, north london, the son. From 1978 to 1996, mayer was ceo of penguin books, where he introduced a flexible style in editorial, marketing, and production. Mayer took over penguin, which was then languishing. Peter mayer shaking up the status quo at penguin books.
Last week, new yorks trade publishing community turned out in full force to hear speakers reminisce about the life of peter mayer, the iconic publisher who died may 11, 2018. Penguin books veteran intervenes to rescue independent. Former colleagues remember legendary penguin chief peter mayer. During his tenure there, which lasted until 1996, mayer is credited with turning penguin into a profitable business and expanding its international presence. Profile books andrew franklin speaks at the london memorial service. In the us, mayer founded the overlook press in 1971, was publisher and president at pocket books and spent 14 years at avon books. Article profiles peter mayer, who after 19 years as head of the global empire of penguin books has left the rat race behind to head his own small publishing company, overlook press. No doubt he would have felt similar pyromaniac urges when faced with some of the titles taken on by penguin s current supremo, peter mayer. Penguin refused to withdraw the book, mayer claiming that to do so would endanger civil society as we knew it. With his unique writing style, distinctive voice and virtuoso musicianship, mayer creates compelling and soulful music for an electrifying live performance.
Remembering book publisher peter mayer publishing perspectives. He encouraged his imprints to publish a wide range of literary and commercial adult and childrens fiction and nonfiction titles, many of which he personally acquired. Peter michael mayer 28 march 1936 11 may 2018 was a britishborn american independent publisher who was president of the overlook press peter mayer publishers, inc. Born in london and raised in new york, mayer began his publishing career as an editorial assistant at orion press in 1961, then quickly moved to avon books, where, over the course of 14 years, he rose to the position of publisher. Mayer was best known for his time from 1978 to 1996 as ceo of penguin books, whose.
Peter mayer, published the satanic verses obituary the telegraph. I remember when he arrived in naples one evening from new dehli for the opening of our first bookshop there. We are deeply saddened by the passing of our forever colleague peter mayer, one of the giants of trade publishing, whose long and brilliant leadership of penguin will always be part of the dna of penguin random house. Mayer has released albums to date and tours year round with the peter. Peter mayer publisher settling in america web of stories. Britishborn peter mayer 19362018 was an independent american publisher who, as head of the new yorkbased avon books, successfully introduced the trade paperback to the mass market. Tributes have continued to pour in to peter mayer, former c.
After serving as publisher of pocket books from 1976 to 1978, pearson chose mayer to run its troubled penguin books division. There, he successfully launched the trade paperback as a viable alternative to mass market and hardcover formats. When peter mayer, the former chief of penguin on both sides of the. Peter mayer revived penguin books by giving readers what. So peter mayer having climbed the ranks at avon and pocket books to run penguin s international operation as ceo traveled to australia, new zealand often referred to in shorthand as anz, never as down under and other countries to buck up the penguin troops, as it were. Peter mayer, one of the british publishing giants of the late 20th century, stepped in last night with all his old flair to save independent publisher gerald duckworth. Profile books andrew franklin speaks at the london memorial service for peter mayer. Peter mayer, the publisher, who has died aged 82, was chief. Peter mayer is a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, touring musician and recording artist in nashville, tennessee. Peter mayer publisher consternation at penguin books. Peter michael mayer 28 march 1936 11 may 2018 was a britishborn american.