Frank N. Magill founded Salem Press in 1949 and was its Publisher and Editor-in-Chief from 1949-1997.
Never in history has there been so much competition for the attention of the average individual. Out of this increased “exposure” must surely come a more intellectually alert society. From such a society we may reasonably expect an acceleration of our cultural development.
Frank N. Magill
Preface, Masterplots, 1960
The first Literary Annual was published in 1954 as an update to Masterplots
Mr. Magill corresponded with a remarkable number of writers and editors. One of the more charming letters he received came from Anais Nin, apparently written on a TWA flight
History & Overview
During World War II, Frank N. Magill found himself stationed in the Panama Canal Zone with time to think. He thought about all of the great books he had read years before, many of which had become cloudy remembrances, and about others he had never found time to read at all. He was certain that there were many like him who would appreciate a source which would recall the plots of the world's great works of literature or provide a concise summary of books worth reading. Following the war, Magill decided to publish just such a resource before getting locked into a job, career, and family.
Back home, Magill laid the groundwork for his project. Not wanting to summarize famous living writers' works without their permission, he corresponded with such famous authors as George Bernard Shaw, who while initially refusing to grant permission finally relented after a lengthy letter and postcard exchange with Magill.
Magill traveled to college campuses and recruited graduate students, newly returned from the war, who welcomed the modest writer's stipend to support their education and growing families. Many, such as the scholar and critic Dr. Matt Bruccoli, went on to distinguished academic careers.
When Masterplots appeared three years later, Magill was pleased to see that more people agreed with him than he had thought. What began as a one-book publishing philosophy grew to become the foundation for a growing list of reference works commonly know as "Magill Books." And Magill himself? He found himself with a career and job he loved, publisher and editor-in-chief of Salem Press, which he continued to pursue actively until his death in 1997
Publishing Approach
The characteristics of the original Masterplots that appealed to individuals and libraries in the early 1950's continue to make the multivolume reference works published by Salem Press popular with librarians and library patrons today. Each Magill Book is designed with a broad range of users in mind: the student approaching a subject for the first time, the reader trying to decide which book to read for pleasure, the teacher needing a quick reminder of a character's name in a book read many years ago, the graduate student reviewing for orals, the reference desk librarian needing to quickly answer a question for a patron.
Migrations
The characteristics of the original Masterplots that appealed to individuals and libraries in the early 1950's continue to make the multivolume reference works published by Salem Press popular with librarians and library patrons today. Each Magill Book is designed with a broad range of users in mind: the student approaching a subject for the first time, the reader trying to decide which book to read for pleasure, the teacher needing a quick reminder of a character's name in a book read many years ago, the graduate student reviewing for orals, the reference desk librarian needing to quickly answer a question for a patron.
