Michael Joseph: Man of Words

by Robert Joseph

(BIOGRAPHY OF THE FAMOUS PUBLISHER, LITERARY HISTORY 20TH CENTURYWritten by his son, Master of Words is the long overdue biography of Michael Joseph, the gifted literary agent and author who founded the now famous firm of publishers and who did so much to revolutionise the world of publishing. This most stimulating book is an affectionate and nostalgic look at a highly respected and intriguing man, and a brilliant evocation of the style and atmosphere of Britain through the. First half of the 20th Century. Prologue by Monica Dickens. Illustrated with reproduced black and white photos and drawings.)

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Richard Bartholomew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tribute to the publisher written by his son; filial, although not especially warm. The chapters are arranged thematically, considering Joseph's careers as writer (articles, stories and poems, but most successfully as the author of "How to Write" books), soldier, literary agent (for Curtis Brown) as well as publisher (first for Hutchinson, and then for himself). He seems to have been somewhat mercurial - at one time denouncing the younger "de-generation", and at another praising young people for having better attitudes on various subjects; rejecting militarism after World War One and refusing to allow one son to join a military group at school, yet choosing to re-enlist as soon as World War Two is underway.