From Publishing Perspectives:
The HarperCollins Caedmon imprint, named for the seventh-century Northumbrian considered by many to have been the first English poet, marks its 68th anniversary and is releasing first digital editions of works including:
- Richard Wright’s autobiography, Black Boy
- Thornton Wilder’s The Bridge of San Luis Rey
- Two novels by author Betty Smith, Joy in the Morning and Maggie-Now
- N. Scott Momaday’s House Made of Dawn, as well as a new poetry collection from the renowned poet and novelist
Caedmon was established in 1952 when Hunter College graduates Barbara Cohen and Marianne Roney published Dylan Thomas’ recording of A Child’s Christmas in Wales along with five of his poems on Caedmon Records. As HarperCollins spokespeople today are saying, the Thomas work is considered by some to be the world’s first audiobook.
Caedmon became part of HarperCollins Publishers in 1987 and has logged more than 25 Grammy nominations and awards, winning a Peabody in 1991 for “a distinguished and unmatched record of preserving our rich oral tradition in poetry, drama, and spoken-word performance.”
In a prepared statement today for the digital release of titles from the catalogue, HarperAudio associate publisher Caitlin Garing is quoted, saying, “Caedmon was there at the start of the audiobook format and HarperAudio, in partnership with Harper Perennial, is excited to make sure that it’s here for the boom in digital audiobooks. With a focus on publishing fresh recordings of classic works and also diving into our historic catalog, we look forward to bringing Caedmon to a new generation of listeners.”
. . . .
In media messaging, Harper’s audio division says that Caedmon will publish more digital audiobooks this year, including:
- All three volumes and an abridged collected edition of The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr I. Solzhenitsyn
- Two more novels from Wilder, The Eighth Day and Theophilus North
- Two additional works by Wright, The Outsider and Uncle Tom’s Children
- Betty Smith’s long out of print Tomorrow Will Be Better
- Earth Keeper, a new work by N. Scott Momaday
Link to the rest at Publishing Perspectives
PG knows that some people buy the audiobook after first reading the original book in print or ebook format.
However, he wonders how often people purchase an ebook or print edition to read after listening to the audiobook version of the same.
Regardless of the answer to PG’s question, he suggests that more audiobooks will mean more sales on Audible.