A. Whitney Ellsworth
Encyclopedia
Arthur Whitney Ellsworth (May 31, 1936, Manhattan
– June 18, 2011, Salisbury, Connecticut
) was an American editor and publisher best known as the first publisher of The New York Review of Books
.
In 1957, Ellsworth was President of The Harvard Advocate
. After graduating with a bachelor's degree from Harvard University
in 1958 he began his career as an editor at The Atlantic Monthly
. In 1963 he became the first publisher of The New York Review of Books
; a post he maintained until his retirement in December 1986. He thereafter worked as managing partner of the publishing firm The Lakeville Journal Company. In 1979 he founded the London Review of Books
. His first marriage to writer Sallie Bingham
ended in divorce.
From 1976 to 1978, Ellsworth served as chairman of Amnesty International USA
, devising a method of greatly increasing the organization's size and capabilities by setting up a direct-mail fund-raising operation. He also served as treasurer of the group for several years.
Ellsworth died of pancreatic cancer.
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
– June 18, 2011, Salisbury, Connecticut
Salisbury, Connecticut
Salisbury is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The town is the northwest-most in the State of Connecticut. The MA-NY-CT Tri-State Marker is located just on the border of Salisbury...
) was an American editor and publisher best known as the first publisher of The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...
.
In 1957, Ellsworth was President of The Harvard Advocate
The Harvard Advocate
The Harvard Advocate, the literary magazine of Harvard College, is the oldest continuously published college literary magazine in the United States. The magazine was founded by Charles S. Gage and William G. Peckham in 1866 and, except for a hiatus during the last years of World War II, has...
. After graduating with a bachelor's degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1958 he began his career as an editor at The Atlantic Monthly
The Atlantic Monthly
The Atlantic is an American magazine founded in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1857. It was created as a literary and cultural commentary magazine. It quickly achieved a national reputation, which it held for more than a century. It was important for recognizing and publishing new writers and poets,...
. In 1963 he became the first publisher of The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books
The New York Review of Books is a fortnightly magazine with articles on literature, culture and current affairs. Published in New York City, it takes as its point of departure that the discussion of important books is itself an indispensable literary activity...
; a post he maintained until his retirement in December 1986. He thereafter worked as managing partner of the publishing firm The Lakeville Journal Company. In 1979 he founded the London Review of Books
London Review of Books
The London Review of Books is a fortnightly British magazine of literary and intellectual essays.-History:The LRB was founded in 1979, during the year-long lock-out at The Times, by publisher A...
. His first marriage to writer Sallie Bingham
Sallie Bingham
Sallie Bingham is an American author, playwright, poet, teacher, feminist activist, and philanthropist.Sallie Bingham’s first novel was published by Houghton Mifflin in 1961. It was followed by four collections of short stories; her latest, published by Sarabande Books in October 2011, is titled...
ended in divorce.
From 1976 to 1978, Ellsworth served as chairman of Amnesty International USA
Amnesty International USA
Amnesty International USA is one of many country sections that make up Amnesty International worldwide.Amnesty International is an organization of more than 2.2 million supporters, activists and volunteers in over 150 countries, with complete independence from government, corporate or national...
, devising a method of greatly increasing the organization's size and capabilities by setting up a direct-mail fund-raising operation. He also served as treasurer of the group for several years.
Ellsworth died of pancreatic cancer.