Publishing in the Era of Globalization
A review of publishing sensation David Davidar’s latest book Ithaca, is a primer to the ruthless world of 21st century publishing, where the bottom line is profits and more profits! With all the elements of a Greek tragedy, the book is a great novel, says Matthew Penticost
Title |
Ithaca |
|---|---|
Author |
David Davidar |
Publisher |
Harper Collins |
Year of Publishing |
2011 |
Price |
Rs. 499 |
When I was asked to write a review of Ithaca, I looked at the cover and smiled weakly. This was not a book I thought I would enjoy. A standard gloomy front cover which, normally, I would pass over in a book store for something more to my taste. However, I started reading and by about 15 pages in, I felt I could be onto something good here.
David Davidar, born in 1958, is an Indian novelist who has written three books: The House of Blue Mangoes (2002), The Solitude of Emperors (2007) and of course, Ithaca (2011). He was a founding member of Penguin India, which gave him the inside knowledge and background to write Ithaca.
Ithaca is set in the early years of the 21st century and tells the tale of a publishing firm, struggling to keep up to date with current trends and technological changes in the publishing industry. The main character is Zachariah Thomas, a middle aged publisher with a London publishing, Litmus. Zachariah has brought the company from the brink of failure by discovering a new writer called Massimo Seppi. Suddenly, he is the hero of the firm. Massimo Seppi is the author of highly successful books and is akin to J.K Rowling. He produces three books in total and makes the company millions but when it comes to the fourth book, Massimo Seppi passes away and once again the publishing firm looks to Zachariah to save the day.
Zachariah details the life of a publisher with its ups and downs. He is required to be stern and cold when it comes to firing people and saying ‘no’ to publishing ideas. But he also needs to be soft, gentle and caring in order to get the job done. When people see both sides, feelings are of course hurt, and in just a few paragraphs, Zachariah can transform from hero to villain.
Of course, this is the case with any Editor, CEO, or Executive. One moment you’re the toast of the town, and the next moment, you’re outcaste. Unfortunately, Zachariah has issues in his personal life as well. Mixing business with pleasure, his failing relationship with his wife and failing to deal with the loss of his mother. To top it all, a giant publishing firm is hell bent on taking Litmus over, mining it for its authors and dissolving the company. The villain of this book is Mortimer Weaver, the CEO of this publishing firm: a cruel and egocentric captain of the industry; ruthless and brutal. A man with a napoleon complex and the stature to match. Is he Zachariah’s greatest threat yet?
David Davidar- The Author of Ithaca
David Davidar, born in 1958,is an Indian novelist who has written three books: The House of Blue Mangoes (2002) The Solitude of Emperors (2007) and of course, Ithaca (2011).
When Massimo Seppi passes away, Zachariah is tasked with finding something they can use for the forthcoming book. With the company and his personal life collapsing around him, he seems to through himself into his work and covers every angle.
The book is split into several sections. All of them revolve around Zachariah and his travels for both business and pleasure from London to India and from New York to Sydney and Toronto to Frankfurt.
This book has the makings of a Greek tragedy with love, sex, laughter, despair and death but brought in the New Age and conveyed in a way we can all relate to on some level.
Obviously, the point of a book review is to get you to read the book. So, when passed a copy by a friend or looking in a book store, don’t do what I would have done and pass this opportunity over. Smile, say thank you and enjoy a great novel.
