Alec Bolton interviewed by Heather Rusden [sound recording]
- Bib ID:
- 2834398
- Format:
- Audio
- Author:
- Bolton, A. T., 1926-1996, interviewee
- Online Version:
- National Library of Australia digitised item
- Access Conditions:
- Access open for research, personal copies and public use.
- Description:
-
- 1996
- 7 digital audio tapes (ca. 420 min.)
- Summary:
-
Bolton, Australian publisher and printer, speaks of his early life in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney, the impact of his father's death at the age of 7, his mother's love of music, his education and his love of travelling by ferry and of Sydney Harbour, how he canoed with friend John Delmakcie up Parramatta River, how his interest in shipping and boating developed, the influence of W.M. Nimmo as founder of Coogee Preparatory School, his years at Sydney Grammar and his moral education, how he became a Lietenant in the Army cadets and his dreams of entering the merchant navy, how he enlisted in the navy in Mar. 1944 and undertook officer training, his feelings at the ending of WWII, his postwar naval duties, his return home when his mother took ill, how he undertook an Arts degree and his involvement in the Sydney University Musicial Society, how he took up script writing and was much influenced by Gwen Meredith, how he eventually became an editor with Angus & Robertson (A&R) and his work with various writers, learnt book production from Henry Mund, how he met and married poet Rosemary Dobson.
Bolton talks about becoming Director of Publishing at A&R, staff attitudes at A&R, the takeover of A&R and the changes it brought, why he resigned from A&R, his work for Ure Smith in 1960 and his contacts with authors, soliciting manuscripts, how he returned to A&R as their London editor, his life in London, how he was called back to Australia in 1971, how he applied as Director of Publications at the National Library of Australia (NLA) and his work there under Allan Fleming, as a one-man dept. He describes the difficulties inherent in sustaining a publishing program, how NLA books were marketed and promoted and the differences compared to a commercial publishing environment, the close contacts he developed over the years, his life in Canberra as part of a literary circle, his interest in poetry, the impact of computer technology on publishing and the place of books in our culture, establishing the Brindabella Press first as a private printing press and their popularity in the 1970s, how he managed his own publishing, rewarding friendships with authors and artists, how his wife assisted him with Brindabella Press, how he made Brindabella Press a success, his interest in art, spirituality and religion.
- Notes:
- Also available online http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-217335183
- Index/Finding Aid Note:
- Timed summary (11 p.) and uncorrected transcript (typescript, 110 leaves).
- Subject:
-
- Bolton, A. T., 1926-1996 -- Interviews
- Brindabella Press
- National Library of Australia -- Administration
- National Library of Australia -- Officials and employees
- Ure Smith Pty Ltd
- Angus & Robertson -- Officials and employees
- Angus & Robertson
- Publishers and publishing -- Australia -- History -- 1945-
- Publishers and publishing -- Australia -- Interviews
- Occupation:
- Publishers
- Other authors/contributors:
- Rusden, Heather, 1948-, interviewer
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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- Reason for copyright status:
- Until 2066 [Created/Published Date + 70 Years]
Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Sound Recording
- Published status:
- Unpublished
- Creation date:
- 1996
Copyright status may not be correct if data in the record is incomplete or inaccurate. Other access conditions may also apply. For more information please see: Copyright in library collections.
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