George Brett started with Macmillan in 1913 as a traveling salesman and took over as President of Macmillan in 1931. Brett took over as chairman in 1936 after the death of his father, George Platt Brett, Sr.[2][3][4]
Brett is best known for having "scored one of publishing's all-time triumphs by gaining the rights to 'Gone With the Wind.' [1] The success of Gone with the Wind from 1935-1936 lead to bonuses of 18% to all employess at Macmillan. Additional literary success under Brett were Rachael Filed's "All This" and "Heaven Too" and Katleen Winsor's "Forever Amber."[5]. In addition, Brett published notable authors C. S. Lewis and Marianne Moore.[6]
In 1936, Brett agreed to publish Ayn Rand's book "We the Living".[7] Brett said "he did not know if they would make money on it or not, but that it was a novel that should be published."[8]
In 1944, following WWII, Brett fought efforts by the British Publisher Bureau to corner the American market for Bristish publishing houses.[9]
In 1951, Brett bought the US division from London based Macmillan Publishing. At this time Macmillan was the second largest publisher in the United States[10]
Brett was succeeded by his son, Bruce Y. Brett in 1958.[6]
Military and Public Service
From 1916 to 1919, he served with the Army on the Mexican border and then in France during World War I.
Served as chairman of the book committee of the People-to-People Program United States President Dwight D. Eisenhower established in 1956.
Serve on missions for the United States State Department in Latin America and postwar Germany.[11]
Brett was born in Darien, CT and attended the Salisbury School in his home state and the Collegiate School in New York. Brett was married to Isabel Stevenson Yeomans. [11][13]
Bibliography
"The role of books in inter-American relations" by George Platt Brett (Unknown Binding - 1943)
The growth and care of cultivated evergreens: An address delivered before the Garden Club of Fairfield on May 26, 1931 (Unknown Binding)
Additional Information
Chronicles of Barabbas 1884-1934 By George H. Doran
The House of Macmillan (1843-1943) by Charles Morgan
The Structure of International Publishing in the 1990s By Fred Kobrak, Beth Luey
Encyclopedia
top
