Macmillan Book Publishing: A Strong Standing Company
In 1843, a couple of brothers, Daniel and Alexander from Scotland, opened the Macmillan Book Publishing Company and began publishing such authors as Alfred Tennyson, Rudyard Kipling and Lewis Carroll. This company would soon grow to one of the greatest publishing companies known.
As one of the oldest companies of its kind, the Macmillan Book Publishing stood strong until 1995. Then 70% of its shares were sold to the German media company Greorg von Holtzbrinck Publishing Group and then, in 1999, Holtzbrinck purchased all other shares, ending the Macmillan family’s long standing association with the book publishing company.
Adding the name American Publishing Company, George P. Brett, Jr. purchased the United States Macmillan Book Publishing Company in 1951, however; Brett kept the name Macmillan.
When the Macmillan Book Publishing Company was taken over by the Brett family, they published such authors as Margaret Mitchell, the author of Gone with the Wind, and Jack London, writer of White Fang and Call of the Wild. Another merger, this time with Crowell Collier, the US publisher became a media mega giant known as Macmillan, Inc. Then, in 1989, the publishing house was purchased by Robert Maxwell and eventually fell apart when Maxwell died in 1991 and the bankruptcy that followed. Holtzbrinck Publishers, the US operations of Greorg von Holtzbrinck is now the owner and the company is simply known as Macmillan. Macmillan today houses many publishing companies under the same name, publishing an extensive and diverse group of books, textbooks, magazines and science fiction books and graphic novels. Holtzbrinck, owner of Macmillan is also St. Martin’s Press – founded in 1952, Tor/Forge (the leading publisher in Sci-Fi / fantasy books) – founded in 1986, Henry Holt and Company – founded in 1866, Metropolitan Books, Time Books, Picador USA – founded in 1995; Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG) – founded in 1946. Text book publishing includes Bedford/St. Martin’s, Freeman and Worth Publishing – founded in 1946. Scientific America and Nature – launched in 1856 and published under Nature Publishing Group are both magazines. The newest addition to the Macmillan family – founded in the fall of 2007, is the First Second, which are graphic novels. One thing has been consistent throughout Macmillan Book Publishing Companies existence, no matter who has owned it. They are not afraid to take on the new, bizarre or different styles of writing. With the addition of the new First Second series of graphic novels, they are paving the way for new, daring authors. These are novels that are reminiscent of cartoons, yet deal with more real life situations and are becoming more and more popular with both adults and teens, even children. Regarding the newest Macmillan Book Publishing venture, a source states that First Second is dedicated to the providing only the best through every part of their books, which includes literature, art, and then production. Macmillan Book Publishing Company can be found not only in the US, but internationally as well. Several countries around the world including Asia, England and Australia are represented by the Macmillan Book Publishing Company with the same care and concern for both authors and readers.
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