George Platt Brett
Encyclopedia
George Platt Brett, Jr. (December 9, 1893 – February 11, 1984) served at Chairman of the American
division of Macmillan Publishing and secured publishing rights
to Gone With the Wind
.
and took over as President of Macmillan in 1931. Brett took over as chairman in 1936 after the death of his father, George Platt Brett, Sr.
Brett is best known for having "scored one of publishing's all-time triumphs by gaining the rights to 'Gone With the Wind
.' The success of Gone with the Wind from 1935-1936 lead to bonuses of 18% to all employees at Macmillan. Additional literary success under Brett were Rachael Filed's All This and Heaven Too and Katleen Winsor's Forever Amber. In addition, Brett published notable authors C. S. Lewis
and Marianne Moore
.
In 1939, Brett promoted a special motion picture edition of Gone with the Wind at the same time the film was being released. Brett was the first to introduce marketing a book and movie at the same time. This was perhaps the earliest instance in the book publishing industry of the "tie-in
," a marketing strategy which involves a mass media commodity appearing simultaneously in several formats that advertise each other.
In 1944 Brett fought efforts by the British Publisher Bureau to corner the American market for Bristish publishing houses.
In 1951, Brett bought the US division from London
based Macmillan Publishing. At this time Macmillan was the second largest publisher in the United States
Brett was succeeded by his son, Bruce Y. Brett in 1958.
and attended the Salisbury School
in his home state and the Collegiate School in New York
. Brett was married to Isabel Stevenson Yeomans.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
division of Macmillan Publishing and secured publishing rights
Publishing rights
Literally, the right to publish a work.In the music industry, "publishing" is used as a catch-all shorthand for the administration of matters relating to the songwriter's and composer's share of income from a musical composition or recorded work....
to Gone With the Wind
Gone with the Wind
The slaves depicted in Gone with the Wind are primarily loyal house servants, such as Mammy, Pork and Uncle Peter, and these slaves stay on with their masters even after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 sets them free...
.
Career
George Brett started with Macmillan in 1913 as a traveling salesmanPeddler
A peddler, in British English pedlar, also known as a canvasser, cheapjack, monger, or solicitor , is a travelling vendor of goods. In England, the term was mostly used for travellers hawking goods in the countryside to small towns and villages; they might also be called tinkers or gypsies...
and took over as President of Macmillan in 1931. Brett took over as chairman in 1936 after the death of his father, George Platt Brett, Sr.
George Platt Brett, Sr.
George Platt Brett, Sr. was a British-born chairman and publisher of the American division of Macmillan Publishing. He was best known for serving as publisher, friend, and mentor of American author Jack London. Under Brett's leadership, Macmillan became one of the largest publishers in America. ...
Brett is best known for having "scored one of publishing's all-time triumphs by gaining the rights to 'Gone With the Wind
Gone with the Wind
The slaves depicted in Gone with the Wind are primarily loyal house servants, such as Mammy, Pork and Uncle Peter, and these slaves stay on with their masters even after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 sets them free...
.' The success of Gone with the Wind from 1935-1936 lead to bonuses of 18% to all employees at Macmillan. Additional literary success under Brett were Rachael Filed's All This and Heaven Too and Katleen Winsor's Forever Amber. In addition, Brett published notable authors C. S. Lewis
C. S. Lewis
Clive Staples Lewis , commonly referred to as C. S. Lewis and known to his friends and family as "Jack", was a novelist, academic, medievalist, literary critic, essayist, lay theologian and Christian apologist from Belfast, Ireland...
and Marianne Moore
Marianne Moore
Marianne Moore was an American Modernist poet and writer noted for her irony and wit.- Life :Moore was born in Kirkwood, Missouri, in the manse of the Presbyterian church where her maternal grandfather, John Riddle Warner, served as pastor. She was the daughter of mechanical engineer and inventor...
.
In 1939, Brett promoted a special motion picture edition of Gone with the Wind at the same time the film was being released. Brett was the first to introduce marketing a book and movie at the same time. This was perhaps the earliest instance in the book publishing industry of the "tie-in
Tie-in
A tie-in is an authorized product based on a media property a company is releasing, such as a movie or video/DVD, computer game, video game, television program/television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property...
," a marketing strategy which involves a mass media commodity appearing simultaneously in several formats that advertise each other.
In 1944 Brett fought efforts by the British Publisher Bureau to corner the American market for Bristish publishing houses.
In 1951, Brett bought the US division from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
based Macmillan Publishing. At this time Macmillan was the second largest publisher in the United States
Brett was succeeded by his son, Bruce Y. Brett in 1958.
Military and Public Service
- From 1916 to 1919, he served with the United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
on the MexicanMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
border and then in FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
during World War IWorld War IWorld War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. - Served as chairman of the book committee of the People to People Student Ambassador ProgramPeople to People Student Ambassador ProgramThe People to People Student Ambassador Program is a travel service based in Spokane, Washington offering domestic and international travel opportunities to middle and high school students. The group was founded in 1956 and reincorporated in 1995. Since its founding, nearly half a million...
United States President Dwight D. EisenhowerDwight D. EisenhowerDwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
established in 1956. - Serve on missions for the United States State DepartmentUnited States Department of StateThe United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
in Latin AmericaLatin AmericaLatin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and postwar GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Personal life
Brett was born in Darien, ConnecticutDarien, Connecticut
Darien is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. A relatively small community on Connecticut's "Gold Coast", the population was 20,732 at the 2010 census. Darien was listed at #9 at CNN Money's list of "top-earning towns" in the United States as of 2011...
and attended the Salisbury School
Salisbury School
Salisbury School is an all-boys, private college-preparatory boarding school founded in 1901 and located in Salisbury, Connecticut. Its school newspaper is The Cupola. Its mascot is the Crimson Knight. The School's motto is Esse quam videri, which translates to To be rather than to seem to...
in his home state and the Collegiate School in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Brett was married to Isabel Stevenson Yeomans.
See also
- George Edward BrettGeorge Edward BrettGeorge Edward Brett opened the first American office of Macmillan Publishing called Macmillan & Co. of New York.-Career:Brett was assigned by Alexander Macmillan to create the New York Office in August 1869. Brett was aided in the creation of the New York office, by American firm Messrs Pott &...
- George Platt Brett, Sr.George Platt Brett, Sr.George Platt Brett, Sr. was a British-born chairman and publisher of the American division of Macmillan Publishing. He was best known for serving as publisher, friend, and mentor of American author Jack London. Under Brett's leadership, Macmillan became one of the largest publishers in America. ...
- Richard M. BrettRichard M. BrettRichard M. Brett was a conservationist and author.-Early life:Brett, was born in Darien, Connecticut and spent most of his life in Woodstock, Vermont, and Fairfield, Connecticut. Brett was a graduate of the Taft School, Williams College, and the Yale School of Forestry.-Career:Brett served as...
Additional information
- Chronicles of Barabbas 1884-1934 By George H. Doran
- The House of Macmillan (1843–1943) by Charles Morgan
- The Structure of International Publishing in the 1990s By Fred Kobrak, Beth Luey
- New York Times article "Stefansson a Hero to British Public: George P. Brett back from London with a glowing account of the Young Explorers Success, printed on April 13, 1913
- New York Times March 13, 1913 article about Brett book "Book publishing and its present tendencies"
- New York Times article about Macmillan and George Brett
Places with more information
- Pequot Library 720 Pequot Avenue, Southport, CT 06890 (203) 259-0346
- New York City Public Library 455 Fifth Avenue, 10016-0122. (212) 340-0849