Preview: Ithaca

review

Ithaca
David Davidar
HarperCollins
Releasing on September 27

About the book:
In the early years of the twenty-first century, sweeping changes are taking place in the publishing industry and its key players must do everything they can in order to survive. Litmus, an independent literary publishing firm in the UK, is one of the companies that are struggling to keep afloat. The onus of ensuring that it remains viable falls upon its publisher, Zachariah Thomas, who also edits its most successful author, Massimo Seppi, whose quartet of novels, featuring angels and archangels, has sold millions of copies worldwide.

Unfortunately for Zach and for Litmus, Seppi dies unexpectedly; without its star it appears that Litmus’s chances of surviving the economic downturn and the unwanted attentions of a giant corporation that is intent on taking it over are practically non-existent. Unless Zach can mine the Seppi legacy for one last gem that will give the company some breathing room to regroup and chart out a strategy for the future … As he travels the world on his quest to stave off the disaster that threatens, the reader is given an unforgettable glimpse into the turbulent, exhilarating world of international publishing – a world that has rarely featured in fiction.

David Davidar is the author of The House of Blue Mangoes, which was a New York Times Notable Book, and The Solitude of Emperors, which was short-listed for a regional Commonwealth Writers' Prize.

Davidar acquires first fiction title

David Davidar has acquired the first fiction title for his Aleph Book Company, a novel by the Pakistani novelist Musharraf Ali Farooqi titled Between Clay and Dust. Publication is scheduled for April 2012. The deal was made by author's consulting editor and publishing industry veteran Robert B. Wyatt in conjunction with The Colchie Agency.

DESCRIPTION: A novel about forgiveness and redemption, Between Clay and Dust is the story of Ustad Ramzi and Gohar Jan, two artists who, approaching the end of their careers in courtly arts, must come to terms with the meaning of their lives as their worlds disintegrate in the wake of India's Partition.

Rights sold: South Asia English Language (Ex. Pakistan)

Full report here Booktrade

David Davidar surges in India

Former Penguin Canada president David Davidar left Canada under a particularly dark cloud early this year. But somewhere over the Atlantic, that cloud dissipated, and he landed here to an open-armed welcome. He has resumed his place at the top of the flourishing Indian literary world, and that nasty allegation of sexual harassment in the (other) colonies is yesterday’s news.

Two months ago, Davidar, 52, announced he was launching a new publishing house, Aleph Book Co., focusing on literary books, both fiction and non-fiction. The Indian industry, centred here in Delhi, has been watching eagerly: It is a current favourite preoccupation in book circles to speculate on which authors and which executives will defect to Aleph.

His new house will publish 15 or 20 books by the end of next year, Davidar says, although he won’t name any of the authors of those planned books, saying he is saving that for a “spectacular announcement” in December. “There will be people Canadians will recognize,” he says. “There will be big-name novelists, and the next generation of novelists who will set the world alight.”

But he acknowledges he has yet to sign contracts with any authors, and while he has hired a number of high-profile staff, he says, none of the appointments has been announced.

Full report here The Globe and Mail

Davidar ties up with Rupa Publications

Noted publisher and writer David Davidar, who last year exited as CEO of Penguin’s international division amid controversy, has tied up with Rupa Publications, India to set up a new literary firm, the Aleph Book Company.

Announcing the partnership in a press statement on Monday, Davidar said: “Each book published by Aleph will be distinctive, original and of outstanding literary quality.” It will be headquartered in the capital.

“Our books will be creatively packaged and innovatively marketed through traditional retail and grant outlet as well as digital and other channels,” the veteran publisher said.

Kapish G. Mehra, managing director of Rupa Publications, said the new publishing partnership with Davidar was a “perfect way to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Rupa as the new company will complement and round out Rupa’s existing publishing”.

“Rupa has an excellent publishing relationship with retailers nationwide. It has seven offices around the country and reaches deep into the market. So every Aleph book and author will have an excellent chance to succeed in the market,” Mehra said.

Full report here Hindustan Times

Love of the land

A historical romance set in colonial Coorg wins its NRI author Sarita Mandanna lavish praise but, asks Rrishi Raote, has she acknowledged all her sources?

Sarita Mandanna’s Tiger Hills was born with a silver spoon in its mouth. Not only was it championed by David Davidar, until recently a big wheel at Penguin, it also won the attention of David Godwin, a top literary agent. UK rights were quickly picked up by Kirsty Dunseath of Weidenfeld & Nicolson, who compared Tiger Hills with Colleen McCullough’s The Thorn Birds and Vikram Seth’s A Suitable Boy. (Early reviewers said its heroine Devi recalled Gone with the Wind’s immortal Scarlett O’Hara.) And in April 2009 Penguin paid a huge sum to acquire India rights to this debut novel. Trade rumour says the sum was around Rs 35 lakh.

What’s more, Mandanna is a young Manhattanite who works in private equity. She comes from a landed family with thousand-year-old roots in Coorg (now Kodagu). The chief characters in her novel are also privileged, from aristocratic families with coffee estates and paddy acres — all of which boosts the story’s “lushness”.

Full report here Business Standard

Andrew Phillips to head Penguin International

Andrew Phillips has been president of Penguin International, replacing David Davidar, who left the publishing company two weeks ago.

Prior to this appointment, Phillips was deputy CEO of DK, a division of Penguin Group, where he was responsible for global sales and marketing and digital sales.

Phillips be based in Delhi, India.

“I am absolutely delighted that Andrew has agreed to take on this important role,” said John Makinson, Chairman and CEO of Penguin Group, in a press release. “He has a wealth of international experience and has enjoyed a very successful track record at DK.  He will become one of Penguin’s four regional CEOs around the world.  Together, they make a formidable team.”

As President of Penguin International, Andrew will be heading up Penguin’s businesses in India, Africa and the Middle East.  He will also be responsible for DK’s growing operation in Delhi, as it takes on more responsibility for DK’s digital product development and publishing.

Full report here National Post

Mike Bryan new President of Penguin Canada

Mike Bryan was named the new president of Penguin Canada on Wednesday, July 7 a month less a day after it was revealed David Davidar was leaving the company.

“He brings an enourmous amount of experience to Penguin Canada. He’s one of the most seasoned international executives that we have,” said John Makinson, Penguin’s Chairman and CEO, in an interview.

Bryan, who has been president and CEO of Penguin India since 2007, takes over from Davidar, who left the company last month under a cloud of controversy. He was accused of sexual harassment by former rights and contracts director Lisa Rundle — she launched a $523,000 suit against Davidar and Penguin Canada — though he maintained it was a “consensual, flirtatious relationship.” All three parties reached a settlement on Tuesday, and on Wednesday it was announced that Rundle will return to her previous job with Penguin “in a few weeks’ time.” According to a press release, “she is happy to resume her responsibilities and Penguin is pleased to welcome her back.”

The publishing house surely hopes the appointment of  Bryan, a 30-year industry veteran, is the final chapter in a scandal which has consumed the Canadian book industry for the past several weeks.

“When you’ve been through a difficult time as we had, and you’re sitting where David (Shanks, CEO of Penguin USA) and I are sitting, you are slightly risk-adverse in some ways,” said Makinson. “There’s a lot to be said, I think, for people within the orgzniation. To have to have to comfort of a known quantity. He may not be very well known to you, but he’s very well known within Penguin.”

Full report here National Post 

Penguin Canada rehires Lisa Rundle

Rehiring Lisa Rundle, the former Penguin Canada rights manager whose claims of sexual harassment precipitated the ouster of David Davidar as the company’s president, was both practically and ethically “the right thing to do,” says the international publishing giant’s global CEO.

Penguin announced on Wednesday, July 7, that Rundle will return to work “in a few weeks’ time” and “is happy to resume her responsibilities” as the company’s rights and contract director. The news came a day after it was announced that Rundle’s suits of sexual harassment against Davidar and wrongful dismissal against Penguin had been settled out of court.


Penguin chief executive officer John Makinson, in a phone interview with the Toronto Star from the company’s London headquarters, also credited the advice of Penguin Canada publisher Nicole Winstanley in the decision to reinstate Rundle.

“Nicole Winstanley had a very high opinion of Lisa and hoped that we would find a way for her return,” Makinson said. “We thought that this was not only commercially the right thing to do but ethically the right thing to do as well.”

Full report here The Star

Davidar dispute resolved behind closed doors

All three parties in the sexual harassment case that has dogged Penguin Canada for the last few weeks have settled their disputes and pledged to remain silent, the Globe and Mail reports.

David Davidar, former chief executive of the publisher, had been facing allegations made against him and Penguin by former colleague Lisa Rundle, after which the company admitted he had been fired from his position.

The Globe and Mail quoted an email written by Peter Downard, lawyer to Davidar, which stated: "We can now advise that all allegations have been addressed and all matters resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. None of the parties will be commenting further to the media."

Penguin spokesman Yvonne Hunter confirmed the news. “Everything has been settled,” she said, adding that the company was planning to announce the name of Penguin Canada’s new president today (7th July).

Full report here Bookseller

Related news 

Davidar settles sexual harassment suit out of court Hindu

Books and the Blues

The newspapers might have lost interest but Indian blogs and social networking sites are still full of salacious details about publisher-writer David Davidar getting sacked due to alleged sexual misconduct. Davidar’s sordid personal life aside, he was considered competent. But he was hardly a genius like Tiger Woods that so much space should be devoted to analysing his errant behaviour. It’s scandalous alright but it’s not the first time a woman has filed a million-dollar suit against a lecherous boss. But in this lethargic season while we wait for the monsoon, when even football and India winning the Asia Cup can’t shake off a heat-induced stupor, who minds a little diversion involving sex, power and money?

Over the years, in India’s publishing circles, there’s been virtually no criticism of Davidar, the writer. Personally, I never managed to finish his book The House of Blue Mangoes. Maybe that’s just me. But prudence would kick in and I would think hard before bluntly commenting on a heavyweight publisher in print or elsewhere, since like most journalists I harboured some vague and romantic literary ambitions. (Luckily for everyone, I’ve tossed them all aside.) Because of his formidable position at Penguin, Davidar has escaped the scrutiny and brutal assaults authors are usually subjected to by unforgiving reviewers, and readers.

Full report here Indian Express

Delhi Defends David Davidar

Delhi, which is the capital of India’s publishing industry, sometimes seems like a place where everyone, including most journalists, has a novel up their sleeve and where many people follow book contracts, new books, prizes and sundry movements of the publishing world as avidly as celebrity gossip addicts look out for Brangelina’s next baby adoption.

That world is a small one though, judging by the intensity of the online reaction to the news this month about David Davidar, who until recently headed Penguin Canada. Mr. Davidar is well-known in Delhi publishing circles as the man who set up Penguin India. Early in June, Penguin Canada announced Mr. Davidar was leaving to pursue his own writing projects in India. Mr. Davidar confirmed that he was leaving to spend more time writing a book that included a “Robin Hood-type character,” according to an interview he gave Canadian book magazine Quill and Quire on Thursday, June 10.

That was reportedly the same day that former Penguin Canada employee Lisa Rundle filed a lawsuit alleging that Mr. Davidar sexually harassed her when she worked there, according to a Penguin Canada statement reported on by Publishers Weekly on Friday, June 11. Penguin Canada did not respond to e-mail requests for comment.

Full report here WSJ blogs

Penguin names Davidar's replacement

London-based Penguin Group named a new executive on June 23 to replace fired CEO David Davidar as president of Penguin International, a division created last year to build the brand globally.

Penguin Group CEO John Makinson announced that Andrew Phillips, current deputy CEO of Penguin subsidiary DK, will take over Mr. Davidar's role as one of the company's “four regional CEOs around the world.”

Unlike Davidar, an Indian who was based in Toronto, Mr. Phillips is a Westerner who will be based in Delhi, responsible for managing the brand in India, Africa and the Middle East. Prior to joining DK, best known for its innovative Eyewitness series, Mr. Phillips was an executive at video-game giant Electronic Arts.

In addition to being CEO of Penguin International, Mr. Davidar headed the company's Canadian division in Toronto. So the appointment leaves an empty corner office at the embattled headquarters, a vacancy compounded by the imminent departure of Penguin Canada publisher Nicole Winstanley on maternity leave. “We expect to make an announcement on the Canadian front very soon,” company spokesman Yvonne Hunter said Tuesday morning.

On that front, industry rumours of potential replacements for Mr. Davidar centre on two veterans of the Canadian industry: Doug Pepper, current president of McClelland & Stewart, and Simon & Schuster Canada president Kevin Hanson. Mr. Pepper, who describes himself as a “very, very good friend” of Mr. Davidar and published two of his novels, declined to comment on the matter when reached in his office Tuesday.

Full report here Globe and Mail 

Related news

Andrew Phillips named president of Penguin International, replaces David Davidar 

National Post

'Consensual flirting' not sexual harassment, says Davidar

It's been one of the most talked about controversies to hit the world of publishing.

And now, Penguin Canada's former CEO, David Davidar, has broken his silence on allegations of sexual harassment levied against him by Ms Lisa Rundle, a former colleague.

A statement released by Mr. Davidar's lawyers said he had not sexually harassed anyone, nor was he guilty of assault or force.

Spelling out the details of his relationship with Ms Rundle, Davidar's lawyers said that the relationship between the two was entirely consensual. Describing it as a "consensual, flirtatious relationship that grew out of close friendship with a colleague," the statement goes on to say, "It was not until several months after the trip to Frankfurt (Oct 2009) that Ms. Rundle initiated a complaint of sexual harassment by Mr. Davidar.  Mr. Davidar subsequently told Ms. Rundle that her complaint would have no effect on her employment."

The statement ends by saying: "David Davidar is happily married. He deeply regrets the trouble that has been visited on his wife in recent days.  He apologizes to her."

Full report here NDTV

Related news
It was consensual flirting: David Davidar DNA
Excerpts: Lisa Rundle's statement Hindustan Times

David Davidar quits Penguin to pursue writing

David Davidar, president and CEO of Penguin Canada, is leaving the publishing company and returning to India, it was announced here on Tuesday, June 6.

As founder of Penguin India in the mid-1980s from a basement in south Delhi, Davidar took the company to the top of English publishing in Asia before moving to Canada.

The author of best selling novels 'The House of Blue Mangoes' and 'The Solitude of Emperors' was appointed president of Penguin Canada in 2004.

Penguin Group vice-president Yvonne Hunter announced Tuesday that the charismatic CEO is leaving the company to return to his native India to "pursue his successful writing career and other projects.''

Full report here Sify

Davidar fired by Penguin for sexual harassment‎

David Davidar, Indian-born president and CEO of Penguin Canada who announced Tuesday that he is voluntarily leaving the publishing giant, was actually terminated following a sexual harassment complaint by a former employee.

Joined by Penguin Group chairman John Makinson, Davidar had announced Tuesday that he is leaving the company to 'pursue his successful writing career and other projects.'

But the very next day, Lisa Rundle, former director of digital publishing and foreign rights at Penguin Canada, filed a $523,000 lawsuit in a court here against Penguin, alleging that she faced sexual harassment for three years and then an outright assault by Davidar at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October.

Full report here Sify