Tom Burns (publisher)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Ferrier Burns publisher and magazine editor, was an important figure in mid-20th-century Catholic publishing in Britain.
and then at Stonyhurst College
. His first job, in 1926, was on the staff of the newly founded publishing firm Sheed & Ward. In 1935 he moved to Longman's
. At Longman's he backed Graham Greene
's project to write about the persecution of the Catholic Church in Mexico, which led directly to The Lawless Roads (1939) (US title Another Mexico), and indirectly to The Power and the Glory
(1940).
From 1940 to 1944 he was press attaché to Sir Samuel Hoare, British ambassador to Spain. In 1944 he married a Spanish bride, Mabél Marañón, daughter of Gregorio Marañón
. The couple had three sons and a daughter.
From 1935 to 1985 Burns was a director of the Tablet Publishing Company, and editor of The Tablet
from 1967 to 1982. The furore over Humanae Vitae
was his first challenge as editor, and Burns, quoting John Henry Newman, decided to take the line "to conscience first and to the Pope afterwards".
He was awarded an OBE in 1983.
Life
He was born in Chile, to a Scottish father and a Chilean mother, but was brought up in England and educated at Jesuit schools, first at Wimbledon CollegeWimbledon College
Wimbledon College is a government-maintained voluntary-aided Jesuit Roman Catholic high school for boys aged 11 to 19. The school is based at Edge Hill, Wimbledon, London. It was founded in 1892 "for improvement in living and learning to the greater glory of God and the common good"...
and then at Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College
Stonyhurst College is a Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building...
. His first job, in 1926, was on the staff of the newly founded publishing firm Sheed & Ward. In 1935 he moved to Longman's
Longman
Longman was a publishing company founded in London, England in 1724. It is now an imprint of Pearson Education.-Beginnings:The Longman company was founded by Thomas Longman , the son of Ezekiel Longman , a gentleman of Bristol. Thomas was apprenticed in 1716 to John Osborn, a London bookseller, and...
. At Longman's he backed Graham Greene
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
's project to write about the persecution of the Catholic Church in Mexico, which led directly to The Lawless Roads (1939) (US title Another Mexico), and indirectly to The Power and the Glory
The Power and the Glory
The Power and the Glory is a novel by British author Graham Greene. The title is an allusion to the doxology often added to the end of the Lord's Prayer: "For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever , amen." This novel has also been published in the US under the name The...
(1940).
From 1940 to 1944 he was press attaché to Sir Samuel Hoare, British ambassador to Spain. In 1944 he married a Spanish bride, Mabél Marañón, daughter of Gregorio Marañón
Gregorio Marañón
Gregorio Marañón y Posadillo was a Spanish physician, scientist, historian, writer and philosopher. He married Dolores Moya in 1911, they had four children ....
. The couple had three sons and a daughter.
From 1935 to 1985 Burns was a director of the Tablet Publishing Company, and editor of The Tablet
The Tablet
The Tablet is a Catholic international weekly review published in London. Contributors to its pages have included Evelyn Waugh, Graham Greene, Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Paul VI ....
from 1967 to 1982. The furore over Humanae Vitae
Humanae Vitae
Humanae Vitae is an encyclical written by Pope Paul VI and issued on 25 July 1968. Subtitled On the Regulation of Birth, it re-affirms the traditional teaching of the Catholic Church regarding married love, responsible parenthood, and the continuing proscription of most forms of birth...
was his first challenge as editor, and Burns, quoting John Henry Newman, decided to take the line "to conscience first and to the Pope afterwards".
He was awarded an OBE in 1983.
Publications
- Tom Burns, The Use of Memory: Publishing and Further Pursuits. London: Sheed & Ward, 1993. ISBN 0722094507