Description
Book SynopsisIn this pioneering work, based upon interviews with many of the surviving protagonists, Cornelis ('Cees') Andriesse tells the story of the role that Dutch publishing houses played in the rise of English language commercial science publishing after the Second World War, that was preceded by the decline of science publishing in German. Using the existing literature as well as many privately held archival sources, the author follows the fortunes of the leading publishers, Martinus Nijhoff, Elsevier and North Holland while also briefly discussing smaller houses like Dr. W. Junk and Reidel. The book contains lively portraits of the main characters involved and will no doubt stimulate further research and discussion of the role of publishing in the history of science. The authors’ main thesis that successful publishing requires a strong, fruitful partnership between an academic publisher and an academic editor, will no doubt convince most readers. This is a great book on the most productive friendships and partnerships in the history of science publishing.
Trade Review"Andriesse's history is lively and compelling, perhaps surprisingly so for a history of scientific publishing, and he provides the reader with valuable information and provocative insights." Mary Jo Nye, BMGN - The Low Countries Historical Review, 126: 3, 137-138 "At times abruptly and unsuspectingly prosaic, Andriesse gives us a book in which context and personal relations expose the historical and human dynamics of the apparently harsh world of science publishing." Arnold Lubbers, University of Amsterdam. In: Library & Information History " A ... breathtaking contribution to the history of Dutch scientific publishing in the world." Berry Dongelmans, Leiden University. In: De Gulden Paser, 89.1 (2011), pp. 91-92.
Table of ContentsPreface List of Illustrations 1. On Science Publishing 2. The Publisher of Huygens and Lorentz Quest for the Lingua Franca 3. German Scenes Two Scenes from 1942 A Letter and Three Scenes from 1938 Two and a Half Scenes from 1933 4. Elsevier’s Venture The Encyclopaedia of Organic Chemistry The Little Beilstein The Book of Health Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 5. Frank and his ‘North-Holland’ The Choice for Physics Monographs on Theoretical and Applied Physics The Quest for Journal Editors 6. Beyond Physics Excerpta Medica Biological Publications Philosophical Diversions 7. The Associated Scientific Publishers The Dissolution of Boundaries The Integration 8. Saturation 9. Towards the Internet Revolution Manuscript Sources and Interviews Bibliography Index
