News
Stephen Rubin, Publisher Of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ And Other Blockbusters, Dies At 81
NEW YORK — The late Stephen Rubin, a publishing executive of extensive tenure who published blockbusters including “The Da Vinci Code” and “Fire and Fury” and had a keen eye for bestsellers and a deep interest in music and public life, has passed away. Rubin, among others, helped initiate the career of John Grisham. At age 81, he died.
After “a brief and sudden illness,” Rubin passed away on Friday at a hospital in Manhattan, according to his nephew, David Rotter.
It is difficult to conceive of a book publishing industry without the influential and colorful presence of the raspy-voiced Rubin, who adorned himself for decades in suits and fashionable spectacles and whose extensive circle of acquaintances and colleagues included Jacqueline Kennedy and Beverly Sills. His expansive apartment on the West Side served as the venue for memorable gatherings, and he was a frequent source of rumors and eloquent, irreverent, and affectionate evaluations of colleagues, friends, and the greater world.
The Associated Press received an email from close friend and former CEO of HarperCollins Publishers Jane Friedman, who stated, “He would enter a room and immediately fill it.” “He had intense preferences and aversions, and he never changed his mind.”
In the 1980s, Rubin, a former journalist for The New York Times, entered the publishing industry and rose to prominence at Doubleday, where Kennedy once served as editor-in-chief, and Henry Holt and Company. His most recent position was with Simon & Schuster as a publishing consultant.
Stephen Rubin, Publisher Of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ And Other Blockbusters, Dies At 81.
The million-selling “Killing” history series by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard, “Like Water for Chocolate” by Laura Esquivel, “Tuesdays With Morrie” by Mitch Albom, “Bring Up the Bodies” by Hilary Mantel, and “Decision Points” by former President George W. Bush—a million-selling book that Rubin assisted in signing—were among Rubin’s many notable accomplishments.
Executives of books aspire to supervise even a single phenomenon: At a minimum, Rubin scored three times.
Early in the 1990s, he was beginning his career at Doubleday when the publisher prepared to publish “The Firm,” a thriller by obscure author John Grisham. The novel helped make Grisham synonymous with courtroom drama and marked the beginning of a long friendship between him and Rubin, who would admit to using the author’s good looks in promotional ads (Grisham would rebel for a time by appearing in photo shoots unshaven).
Ruskin was an outstanding publisher, according to a statement by Grisham. “With the ability to place books on bestseller lists, which he particularly cherished, he was an avid reader.” Loyal, benevolent, and unabashed in his viewpoints, he embodied the ideal qualities of a writer. “He was almost never mistaken, but never uncertain.”
A decade later, Doubleday signed an unknown author who had sold few copies for Simon & Schuster but had a promising manuscript for a religious/art mystery set in Europe. “The Da Vinci Code” by Dan Brown became an instant and enduring sensation due to its unremitting promotional campaign, which included distributing thousands of advance copies to booksellers and others in the industry. Despite disapproval from certain religious authorities and criticism from fellow authors and critics, sales of the book surpassed 70 million copies.
The book’s phenomenal success propelled Brown’s previous works, “Angels & Demons” and “Digital Fortress,” to the status of bestsellers as well.
Executives of books aspire to supervise even a single phenomenon: At a minimum, Rubin scored three times.
Brown stated, “Steve’s contagious enthusiasm for my work was the stuff of every author’s dreams.” “Steve, an accomplished oenophile of international caliber, used to envoy cases of opulent Italian wines to me. He even joked that it was a secret scheme to endow me with a refined palate so I could never afford to cease writing. His confidence, support, and, most importantly, his friendship have made me eternally appreciative.
Rubin, in his mid-seventies, experienced one more extraordinary journey in 2018. He oversaw a signature book of the Trump presidency, Michael Wolff’s “Fire and Fury,” for which Rubin consented to serve as its publisher and overseer. Rubin and Wolff met for cocktails two years prior, during which he became acquainted with the veteran and frequently controversial journalist.
As the first book to vividly depict the administration’s ongoing chaos, “Fire and Fury” was so unfavorable that Trump dismissed a top aide, Steve Bannon, for having spoken with Wolff and threatened to obstruct its publication. The book would be “the most extraordinary experience” of Rubin’s career.
Rubin wrote in his memoir “Words and Music,” which was published earlier this year, “For over a month, it was humanly impossible to miss ‘Fire and Fury.'” “The outcome was favourable for both Michael and Holt.” “It was thrilling and enjoyable as well.”
Rubin, a native of New York City, had music, particularly opera, as his initial and enduring passion. He earned a master’s degree in journalism from Boston University after he graduated from New York University. (A waste of money, he later wrote). He began his career at UPI and Vanity Fair before contributing to The New York Times Magazine with biographies of Luciano Pavarotti and Sills, among others.
Rubin began his career at Bantam Books, a renowned paperback publisher, in the mid-1980s. He remained at Bantam Books for six years before his departure to Doubleday. During his lifetime, he maintained a deep affection for opera and classical music. In addition, he collaborated with his late wife, Cynthia, in managing the Rubin Institute for Music Criticism at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, an endeavor that brought him immense satisfaction.
He understood, however, that books, particularly the ones that sold the most copies, would characterize his legacy. Within his memoir, he provided a concise yet unfinished prognosis: “I presume that the title of my obituary will read, ‘The publisher of ‘The Da Vinci Code’ passes away.'”
SOURCE – (AP)
The new head of the Army has stated that Britain must be prepared to fight a war within three years.
Gen Sir Roland Walker has issued a warning about a variety of risks in what he calls a “increasingly volatile” environment.
However, he stated that war was not inevitable and that the Army had “just enough time” to prepare to prevent conflict.
He stated that the Army’s fighting capacity would be doubled by 2027 and tripled by the end of the decade.
Gen Walker warned that the Britain was under threat from a “axis of upheaval” in his first speech as Prime Minister on Tuesday.
Among the primary concerns confronting the Britain in the next years, as noted by the general in a briefing, is an enraged Russia, which may seek vengeance on the West for helping Ukraine, regardless of who wins the war.
He stated: “It doesn’t matter how it finishes. I believe Russia will emerge from it weaker objectively – or completely – but still very, very dangerous and seeking some form of retaliation for what we have done to assist Ukraine.”
Britain’s Government Defence Review and Military Challenges
He also warned that China was determined to retake Taiwan, and Iran was likely to seek nuclear weapons.
He stated that the threats they posed may become particularly acute in the next three years, and that these countries had formed a “mutual transactional relationship” since the war in Ukraine, sharing weaponry and technology.
However, he stated that the path to conflict was not “inexorable” if the UK re-established credible land troops to assist its deterrent strategy for avoiding war.
In his speech, he described his force of slightly over 70,000 regular troops as a “medium-sized army” and made no direct call for additional resources or men.
However, he pushed the British Army to adapt swiftly, focussing on technology such as artificial intelligence and weaponry rather than numbers.
His ultimate goal is for the Army to be capable of destroying an opponent three times its size.
This would entail firing quicker and farther, he said, aided by lessons learnt from the Ukraine war.
The general’s speech at the Royal United Services Institute land warfare conference comes only one week after the government began a “root and branch” defence review to “take a fresh look” at the challenges facing the armed services.
Defence Secretary John Healey launched the assessment, describing the existing status of the armed forces as “hollowed-out” and stating that “procurement waste and neglected morale cannot continue”.
According to the most recent Ministry of Defence (MoD) numbers from April 2024, the Britain’s regular Army forces total 75,325 troops (excluding Gurkhas and volunteers).
That figure has been declining in recent years, as recruiting has failed to match retention. The previous Conservative administration lowered the planned headcount from 82,000 to 72,500 by 2025.
Members of the NATO military alliance have agreed to spend at least 2% of GDP on defence by 2024, but several countries are unlikely to fulfil this goal.
The Britain presently spends 2.3% of its GDP on defence. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has previously stated that the defence review will include a “roadmap” for increasing this to 2.5%, however he has yet to provide a date for this promise.
Source: BBC
News
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
PARIS — Katie Ledecky is looking for clean Olympic races. On Wednesday, Hope had pretty much reached her limit.
The American swimmer hopes to add to her six gold medals as she competes in the 400, 800, and 1,500 meters at the Paris Games. Her program starts with the heavy 400 on Saturday, featuring Ariarne Titmus and Summer McIntosh.
Katie Ledecky | ESPN Image
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
The 27-year-old Katie is competing in her fourth Summer Olympics, but the first since a doping scandal involving almost two dozen Chinese swimmers who tested positive for a banned chemical before the Tokyo Games — yet were permitted to compete with no consequences. The controversy has raised serious worries regarding the effectiveness of anti-doping initiatives.
Katie Ledecky | Vogue Image
“I hope everyone here is going to be competing clean this week,” Ledecky claimed. “But what truly counts is, were they training cleanly? Hopefully this has been the case. Hopefully, there has been worldwide testing.”
The International Olympic Committee has expressed concern over the ongoing US investigation into possible doping by Chinese swimmers. While awarding the 2034 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City on Wednesday, the IOC urged Utah officials to do whatever they could to stop the FBI investigation.
“I think everyone’s heard what the athletes think,” Katie added. “They seek transparency. They want more answers to the remaining questions. At this point, we are here to race. We are going to race whoever is in the lane next to us.
“We are not paid to conduct the tests, so we trust those who follow their regulations. That applies both today and in the future.
Katie Ledecky | ESPN Image
Katie Ledecky Hopes For Clean Races At Paris Olympics In The Aftermath Of The Chinese Doping Scandal
SOURCE | AP
As the summer holidays begin, London may experience an official heatwave with temperatures reaching up to 29 degrees Celsius.
The Met Office predicts a long period of sunny and dry weather for London after a soggy spring and summer.
After a cloudy day on Saturday, temperatures are expected to reach 27C on Sunday, with lots of sunlight.
On Monday and Tuesday, temperatures are forecast to peak at 29 degrees Celsius. Monday is forecast to offer more sunlight, while Tuesday may see some gloomy weather.
Temperatures are expected to remain in the high 20s next week, with lows of approximately 18C.
According to the Met Office, a heatwave is “an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of year, which may be accompanied by high humidity.”
In the United Kingdom, a heatwave is proclaimed when daily temperatures meet or surpass a certain level for at least three consecutive days.
In London, the heatwave threshold is 28 degrees Celsius.
The Met Office reported that the UK is experiencing hotter and wetter weather on average due to climate change.
The UK experienced its warmest May and April on record this year, despite damp and dismal conditions in many areas.
According to the Met Office’s State Of The UK Climate 2023 report published on Thursday, the UK experienced historic levels of extreme weather last year.
In the United Kingdom, 2023 was the second warmest year on record, bringing storms, flooding, strong heatwaves, and rising sea levels; only 2022 was warmer.
It was 0.8°C higher than the average from 1991 to 2020, and 1.66°C higher than the 1961 to 1990 average.
However, 2023 will be a “cool year” in comparison to 2100, based on the planet’s warming trajectory.
The government’s plan to adapt to the hazards presented by climate change is currently being challenged in the High Court by campaigners who allege the Tory administration’s July 2023 National Adaptation Programme (NAP) fails to adequately address 61 concerns.
Source: The Standard
-
World2 weeks agoFormer President Trump Survives Being Shot at Pennsylvania Rally
-
Tech4 weeks ago
Huawei Launches 5G-A Pioneers Program at MWC Shanghai 2024: Paving the Way for a Connected Future
-
Tech4 weeks ago
ChatGPT Answers Undiscovered Questions and Outperforms Students.
-
Sports4 weeks ago
NBA Draft: Kyle Filipowski Withdraws Unexpectedly From The First Round
-
News4 weeks ago
US Supreme Court Rejects Drug Deal that Protects the Sackler Family
-
Health4 weeks ago
US Health Agency Issues Dengue Virus Infection Warning
