Free Press (publisher)
Jeremiah Kaplan and Charles Liebman established Free Press in 1947. They chose the name to signal a commitment to civil liberties. The company opened its doors with three specific titles: Division of Labor by Emile Durkheim, The Theory of Economic and Social Organization by Max Weber, and The Scientific Outlook by Bertrand Russell. Their headquarters sat in Glencoe, Illinois, where they operated as The Free Press of Glencoe. This early focus on religion and social science set a distinct tone for their future catalog.
The year 1960 marked a major shift when Macmillan Publishing Company purchased Free Press. Jeremiah Kaplan moved to New York to lead editorial efforts under this new ownership. The deal valued the company at $1.3 million total. Kaplan received $500,000 from the sale while Liebman took home $800,000. Decades later, Simon & Schuster acquired Macmillan in 1994, bringing Free Press into their corporate family. By 2012, the imprint ceased to exist as a separate entity and merged into the flagship Simon & Schuster brand.
George McCune directed operations during the 1960s before co-founding SAGE Publishing with his wife Sara. Valery Webb and Ed Barry also steered the ship through the following decades. Robert Wallace served as another key figure in that era. Under Ed Barry's leadership in 1974, Ernest Becker published The Denial of Death. That book went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. These leaders shaped a reputation for serious nonfiction throughout the mid-twentieth century.
Erwin Glikes took over leadership in 1983 and introduced a controversial conservative book list. This era featured titles like The Tempting of America by Robert Bork and The Closing of the American Mind by Allan Bloom. Adam Bellow succeeded Gikes and continued publishing neoconservative works. His catalog included Illiberal Education by Dinesh D'Souza and The Real Anita Hill by David Brock. Charles Murray and Richard Herrnstein contributed The Bell Curve to this specific ideological direction.
Free Press titles earned major literary prizes under various editors. In 2003, two of five finalists for the National Book Award in non-fiction were Free Press books. Waiting for Snow in Havana by Carlos Eire won that year's award. Aravind Adiga published his debut novel The White Tiger with Free Press in 2008. That work later secured the Man Booker Prize. These accolades highlighted the publisher's ability to champion significant cultural voices.
Martha Levin led Free Press from 2001 until its dissolution in 2012. She oversaw the transition where the imprint merged into Simon & Schuster's flagship brand. A company statement promised to continue publishing thought leaders under the Free Press name while introducing authors to the main imprint. Some books still appeared using the Free Press imprint after the merger announcement. The distinct entity officially ended operations within the larger corporate structure.
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Common questions
Who founded Free Press in 1947?
Jeremiah Kaplan and Charles Liebman established Free Press in 1947. They chose the name to signal a commitment to civil liberties.
When did Macmillan Publishing Company purchase Free Press?
Macmillan Publishing Company purchased Free Press in 1960. The deal valued the company at $1.3 million total.
Where was the headquarters of Free Press located during its early years?
The headquarters sat in Glencoe, Illinois, where they operated as The Free Press of Glencoe. This location served as their base until the acquisition by Macmillan.
What happened to Free Press in 2012?
Free Press ceased to exist as a separate entity and merged into the flagship Simon & Schuster brand in 2012. Martha Levin led the imprint from 2001 until this dissolution.
Which book published by Free Press won the Pulitzer Prize under Ed Barry's leadership?
Ernest Becker published The Denial of Death under Ed Barry's leadership in 1974. That book went on to win the Pulitzer Prize.