Description
Book SynopsisBreaking new ground in the study of British literary culture during an important, transitional period, this new work by Mary Ann Gillies focuses on the professional literary agent whose emergence in Britain around 1880 coincided with, and accelerated, the transformation of both publishing and authorship.
Like other recent studies in book and print culture, The Professional Literary Agent in Britain, 1880-1920 starts from the central premise that the business of authorship is inextricably linked with the aesthetics of literary praxis. Rather than provide a broad overview of the period, however, Gillies focuses on a specific figure, the professional literary agent. She then traces the influence of two prominent agents - A. P. Watt (generally acknowledged as the first professional literary agent) and J. B. Pinker (the leading figure in the second wave of agents) - focusing on their respective relationships with two key clients. The case studies not only provide insight i
Table of Contents
AcknowledgmentsPermissionsIntroductionWhy Did the Professional Literary Agent Emerge in the 1880s?A.P. Watt: Professional Literary AgentEstablishing the Agency Model: George MacDonald and WattTesting the Agency Model: 'Lucas Malet' and WattThe Second Wave of Agenting: J.B. PinkerThe Agent and 'Popular' Literature: Somerville and Ross and PinkerBuilding a Career: Joseph Conrad and PinkerConclusionNotesWorks CitedIndex
