Cirrus@Austlit

'Anne Richards’ new book about growing up radical in a conservative family, in a state ruled by a reactionary government, in an era of profound cultural and political upheaval.

'A Book of Doors is Anne’s story of reaching adulthood as Australia and the Western world were reaching a turning point––when the personal was recognised as political, when oppressed people were demanding their fundamental rights, and young people were calling for a new society.

'People took to the streets to demand peace and freedom, to end the war in Vietnam, to dismantle Apartheid, to unwind patriarchy, and to make sure their voices were heard.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'I never saw a key to the front door of my childhood home, though I’m sure my father had one somewhere. Keys were never important in my family. But I loved that front door with its leadlight panels – waves of coloured glass reflecting the light. It sat behind a porch at the end of a short hopscotch path. The small front yard belied the scale of the sprawling, many-roomed house built into the side of a very steep hill. The backyard was my own wild fairyland, with a magnificent view out over the city of Brisbane.'  (Introduction)

• Is the Australian publishing industry flourishing or floundering?
• What is the future of the book?
• Has lifestyle replaced literary publishing?
• Have new technologies revolutionised the nature of the industry?

'Making Books addresses these questions and many others in a wide-ranging study of contemporary Australian publishing. It also provides a sophisticated introduction to the structure and dynamics of the Australian publishing industry which turns over almost two billion dollars a year.

'Leading industry practitioners and academics analyse the industry in the context of social, cultural and legal forces. They write revealingly on the culture of the publishing house, editorial practice and policy, Bookscan, new technologies and the 'decline' of literary publishing.

'Making Books will be an indispensable companion for arts industry professionals, those in the publishing industry, and scholars of book history or publishing studies.' (Publisher's blurb)