Chosen as Book of the Year by John Bayley, who compared the characters to those of War and Peace. New preface includes British Government expression of regret for the events described in the book. Co-author is John Corsellis.
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Archive for the ‘Publishing’ Category
Help young people understand the world
February 23, 2015Help crowd-fund this worthwhile project in journalism. I did.
So much for ebooks
May 23, 2014
This picture of Kansas City Public Library demonstrates that …
1. Some public authorities feel it worthwhile to invest in well-appointed public libraries.
2. Real books are alive and kicking. Not just ebooks.
Question: So why are many public authorities closing down public libraries to save costs, arguing that “they all read ebooks now”?
Answer: they are ignorant, philistine cheapskates. Or more politely … they have misjudged.
Working on my new book … The Fight For Freedom
May 9, 2014Not much time for blogging, as I am writing, writing, writing. Here’s the book I am working on:
Financial Times “goes through Gutenberg moment”
March 5, 2014
The Financial Times has just gone through its “Gutenberg moment,” with digital revenues for the first time outstripping print, according to managing editor James Lamont.
Setting up a paywall for its internet news site was its biggest decision of the past decade. “It was a good decision. It has guaranteed our survival. We are profitable and we can see our future,” he told journalists studying at the Reuters Institute in Oxford.
Highlights from his upbeat talk:
– Digital subscriptions have been rising at an annual rate of 31%.
– The move to digital meant profits grew 17% last year on a revenue increase of only 1%.
– Fastest growth is in mobile, which accounts for half of traffic to ft.com.
– Print circulation continues to decline (to around 240k), but is profitable because of cheaper print technology and rationalisation of distribution. “We want to keep print going.”
– The proportion of revenues earned from content grows – now 63% compared with 37% for ads. “There is a secular decline in advertising, but we can now survive on subscriptions.”
– Sales are predominantly in 1. Continental Europe 2. UK, 3. US. 4. Asia. “We are global.”
– Web analytics show a “long tail of stories nobody reads.” They are cutting down on those.
– Analytics show at what times readers in the main regions access its news. This led to changes in news schedules.
– The Financial Times increased its journalist staff from 450 to 611 between 2005 and 2011. Now there are 571. It hires five journalists a year from outside.
– It hires journalists on the expectation they will stay for 20 years and have five different jobs. One in four changed jobs last year.
– News stories on multiple platforms have become shorter. “Engagement,” “community” and “relevance” are the buzzwords.
Troubled Eastern Europe: understanding the turmoil
February 26, 2014
NOW ON VIDEO …
A talk about my new book featuring a woman who travels to Eastern Europe to rediscover her roots – and encounters a world in upheaval. It’s about dealing with trauma and moving on. As we can see in the Ukraine, the turmoils of Eastern Europe are far from over.
A web site for my new book THE BUDAPEST HOUSE
February 11, 2014
I have a new web site for my latest book, THE BUDAPEST HOUSE: A LIFE RE-DISCOVERED.
To learn about this moving true story of a woman seeking her roots in Central Europe, and to buy the book, go to http://www.thebudapesthouse.com
I launch my new book, The Budapest House, A Life Re-Discovered, at an Oxford Book shop
November 25, 2013
I have launched my new book, The Budapest House, A Life Re-Discovered, at the Summertown Book House in Oxford.
It’s about a woman of Hungarian origin who belatedly realises she lost half her family in Auschwitz, returns to discover her roots, and goes through personal dramas as she takes over her grandfather’s flat in Budapest. It’s a true story delving into some of Europe’s darkest and most sensitive history, ending on an uplifting and poignant note.
As for any author, the launch was a rite of passage. Waiting for the audience to arrive, feeling the buzz around the bookshop and presenting the book – these are unforgettable moments. Published by Crux Publishing, London. Available as paperback and ebook.
Now the book is delivered to the world! May it enjoy a long life and captivate those who hold it in their hands.
http://www.marcusferrar.org/index.html
My talk at the German Historical Institute about 100 years of German history
November 8, 2013
I shall be giving a talk about 100 years of German history at 5.30 pm, on Tuesday 12 November, at the German Historical Institute, 17 Bloomsbury Square, London WC1.
Open to the public. Free entry. All welcome.
