REVIEW:
The Untold Story of Books: A Writer’s History of Book Publishing

Runestone, volume 11

“REVIEW:
The Untold Story of Books: A Writer’s History of Book Publishing

Runestone, volume 11

Reviewed by Brianna Lange

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Published by Unnamed Press in July 2024, The Untold Story of Books: A Writer’s History of Book Publishing dives into the rich and complicated history of book publishing from a writer’s point of view. Long-time journalist and novelist Michael Castleman draws on over forty years of experience and research to paint a fascinating tale of the book industry’s evolution, from Gutenberg to present day.

With his latest nonfiction work, Castleman aims to provide “a clear, historically informed understanding of how today’s book business evolved and continues to change” (24). To achieve this, he splits his book into three eras of the book business, each involving a distinct economic strategy: hand-crafted publishing, industrial publishing, and digital publishing. Moving through these eras in chronological order, Castleman makes the book industry feel more digestible, allowing readers to make sense of publishing’s expansive–and complex–history.

Castleman’s writing shines as he skillfully balances fact with storytelling. Chapters and subsections are marked by informative yet amusing titles, such as “The Origins of Copyright: Author? What Author?” and “‘Goodbye Forever, Mrs. Weathersby, I’ve Joined Book of the Month’.” Historical anecdotes are sprinkled throughout: Did you know that book dedications originated in ancient Rome? Or that promotional quotes are called “blurbs” because of a satirist’s joke, which featured a “fictional admirer” named Belinda Blurb in 1907? These humorous tidbits break up the monotony of factual information and show that the book business has its own quirks and character.

Another strength is the portrayal of the publishing industry’s major players and their evolving roles. Castleman addresses all the main ones: writers, readers, publishers, booksellers, printers, and agents. He particularly highlights the first four, detailing how economic and legal priorities have continuously plagued their relationships as they attempt to stay afloat in an ever-changing environment. From book piracy to writer’s rights, the trend seems to be that writers just want to write and make money, readers just want accessible entertainment, and publishers and booksellers are businesses focused on profit. As these trends are traced across history, readers will walk away with a deeper understanding of how the book industry’s many parts relate and intersect.

Despite Castleman’s compelling voice and attention to detail, his commitment to relaying “the untold story of books” falls short. He states that the book industry begins with Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press in the 1400s. But while Gutenberg invented the printing press in Europe, printing was actually invented much earlier in Asia, during the Tang Dynasty. In fact, China, Japan, Korea, and India all have rich histories of book publishing. Yet save for a brief mention of ancient Chinese writing practices and ancient Egyptian scrolls, Castleman largely ignores the evolution of books in non-Western-European countries. So even though it seems like he provides a complete account of book publishing’s history, it should be noted that there are still many parts to the story that remain “untold.”

Although it has its blind spots, The Untold Story of Books: A Writer’s History of Book Publishing is still an engaging and enlightening read. Not only does it shed light on the major players surrounding the book business, but it also explores reoccurring issues, such as book piracy, copyright laws, and the benefits and perils of advancing technology. In today’s industry, which is fraught with oversaturated markets, struggling publishers, self-promoting authors, copyright infringement, book piracy, and more, Castleman puts things into perspective by showing that many of these issues have been around since the beginning. In this way, Castleman situates his book into the broader conversation and offers a timely read fit for the Western-European book lover.