A Bite of the Apple

Description

In this insightful memoir Lennie Goodings takes the reader behind the scenes at Virago, the feminist press that she has led for twenty years. Moving from Virago's early days of independence, through its various commercial incarnations, the author reflects on idealistic publishing and how it feels to be a beacon for change.

• A behind-the-scenes glimpse of the history and workings of Virago Press
• Explores the idea of idealistic publishing via Virago's journey from its early days of independence, through its various commercial incarnations
• Casts light on Virago and the feminist movement, but also on any small and passionate publishing enterprise

About the Author(s)

Lennie Goodings, Publisher, Virago Press

Lennie Goodings is Chair of the UK publishing house Virago Press. Her authors include, amongst many others, Margaret Atwood, Maya Angelou, Sarah Waters, Natasha Walter, Sandi Toksvig and Marilynne Robinson. Goodings was part of Virago's management buy-out team of five who created a newly independent Virago in 1987 and became the Publishing Director in 1992. In 1995 Virago was sold to Little, Brown where Goodings remained the Publisher and Editorial Director. She stepped back from that position in 2017 and became Virago Chair, still editing and commissioning her authors. Lennie Goodings won the Bookseller's Industry Award: Editor and Imprint of the Year in 2010 and A Lifetime's Achievement at WOW, London's Southbank Women of the World festival in 2018. Born in Canada, she came to London in her early twenties and has remained there since. She is married with two children. Working with authors and books is her passion.

Table of Contents

Preface
Part One: A New Kind of Being
1:First Bites: The early years
2:Setting the world on fire
3:The acceptable face of feminism? Why not!
Part Two: The Books
4:The Virago Modern Classics
5:Fuck the Patriarchy!: Nonfiction
6:What Stories Can Do: Fiction
Part Three: The Politics: office and otherwise
7:The Dramas
8:Disrupting the old stories
9:Beyond Borders
10:Up, Down and Up Again
Part Four: The Power to Publish is a Wonderful Thing
11:The Intimacy of Editing
12:Does any other successful publisher get asked constantly if they are still necessary?
13:Why can't a man read like a woman?
14:Giving and taking courage