Macmillan of Canada

Macmillan of Canada was a Canadian publishing house established in 1905 as the Canadian arm of the English publisher Macmillan. Initially operating under the name Macmillan Company of Canada Ltd., it later used the names Macmillan of Canada and Macmillan Canada. Its role was to publish and distribute books in the Canadian market, including works by important Canadian writers. The company became particularly influential in Canadian literary publishing during the 1970s and 1980s. Its editorial reputation was strongly associated with Douglas Gibson, an editor and publisher who recruited or worked with many prominent Canadian authors. The company’s author list included Morley Callaghan, Robertson Davies, Mazo de la Roche, Mavis Gallant, Grey Owl, Stephen Leacock, Hugh MacLennan, Preston Manning, W. O. Mitchell, Alice Munro, E. J. Pratt, Carol Shields, and Jack Hodgins. These authors represented a broad range of Canadian literary and intellectual production, including fiction, poetry, essays, biography, and other nonfiction. Ownership changed several times in the later decades of the business. In 1973, Macmillan of Canada was sold to Maclean-Hunter. Approximately seven years later, Maclean-Hunter sold it to Gage Educational Publishing Company. The company continued to operate under the Macmillan name and remained associated with Canadian publishing, but its literary strength was weakened after Douglas Gibson left for McClelland & Stewart in 1986. A substantial number of writers associated with Gibson followed him to the competing publisher, affecting Macmillan Canada's fiction program. In 1998, Macmillan Canada became an imprint of CDG Books, a joint venture involving Gage and the United States publisher Hungry Minds. Hungry Minds had itself been acquired by John Wiley & Sons in 2001, and Wiley subsequently acquired CDG Books in 2002. At that point, Macmillan Canada ceased to exist as either an independent publishing house or a continuing imprint. The company is therefore a historical Canadian publishing brand rather than an active operating business. Its legacy rests primarily on its long period of Canadian publishing activity and on the authors and books it brought to the Canadian market.

Macmillan of Canada was established in 1905 as the Canadian branch of the English publisher Macmillan. Its original legal name was Macmillan Company of Canada Ltd.; over time, the business was also known as Macmillan of Canada and Macmillan Canada. The company operated as a Canadian publishing house, publishing and distributing books for the domestic market and developing a list that included works by Canadian authors. The company’s historical importance was greatest in the second half of the twentieth century, particularly during the 1970s and 1980s. During this period, its editorial and publishing program was closely associated with Douglas Gibson. As editor and publisher, Gibson helped establish Macmillan of Canada as a significant home for Canadian literary talent. Authors published by the company included Morley Callaghan, Robertson Davies, Mazo de la Roche, Mavis Gallant, Grey Owl, Stephen Leacock, Hugh MacLennan, Preston Manning, W. O. Mitchell, Alice Munro, E. J. Pratt, Carol Shields, and Jack Hodgins. The list illustrates the breadth of the company’s activity across fiction, poetry, literary writing, and nonfiction. Macmillan of Canada changed ownership several times. Maclean-Hunter acquired the business in 1973. Around seven years later, Maclean-Hunter sold it to Gage Educational Publishing Company. These transactions placed the company within larger Canadian media and educational-publishing structures while it continued to use the Macmillan name. A major turning point came in 1986, when Douglas Gibson left Macmillan for McClelland & Stewart. The move affected Macmillan Canada's fiction division because many of the writers associated with Gibson followed him to the competing publisher. This reduced the strength of Macmillan’s literary list and marked the end of its most influential period in Canadian fiction publishing. In 1998, Macmillan Canada became an imprint of CDG Books. CDG was formed as a joint venture between Gage and the American publisher Hungry Minds. Hungry Minds had been acquired by John Wiley & Sons in 2001, and Wiley acquired CDG Books in 2002. Following that transaction, Macmillan Canada ceased to exist as an imprint or as a separate publishing house. The brand is consequently defunct, although its historical contribution remains visible through the Canadian authors and literary works published during its nearly century-long existence.

• 2002

  Operations cease

  [1]Macmillan of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  After John Wiley & Sons acquires CDG Books, Macmillan Canada ceases to exist as an imprint or publishing house.

• 1998

  Becomes a CDG Books imprint

  [1]Macmillan of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Macmillan Canada is incorporated into CDG Books as an imprint.

• 1986

  Douglas Gibson departs

  [1]Macmillan of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Douglas Gibson leaves for McClelland & Stewart, and many authors associated with him move to the competing publisher.

• 1980

  Acquisition by Gage

  [1]Macmillan of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Maclean-Hunter sells the company to Gage Educational Publishing Company.

• 1973

  Acquisition by Maclean-Hunter

  [1]Macmillan of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Macmillan of Canada is sold to the Canadian media company Maclean-Hunter.

• 1905

  Canadian Macmillan branch is founded

  [1]Macmillan of Canadaen.wikipedia.org

  Macmillan establishes its Canadian publishing operation under the name Macmillan Company of Canada Ltd.

A Canadian publishing house focused on bringing literary, cultural, educational, and other general-interest books to the Canadian market, with its strongest historical reputation in Canadian literature.

• Literary publishing

  Canadian fiction

  Macmillan of Canada published fiction by major Canadian writers and became especially prominent in literary publishing during the 1970s and 1980s. Its fiction list included established and influential authors such as Robertson Davies, Mavis Gallant, Hugh MacLennan, W. O. Mitchell, Alice Munro, Carol Shields, and Jack Hodgins.

• Literary publishing

  Poetry and literary writing

  The company’s Canadian literary program extended beyond prose fiction to poetry and other forms of literary writing. Its published authors included E. J. Pratt and Stephen Leacock, reflecting the broad cultural and literary range of the Macmillan Canada list.

• Educational and general publishing

  Educational and general books

  Macmillan of Canada operated within the wider book-publishing market and published books beyond literary fiction, including educational and general-interest material. Specific product-level titles and series are not identified in the supplied reference material.

• 2002

  End of the Macmillan Canada imprintM&A

  Background

  John Wiley & Sons acquired CDG Books after previously acquiring Hungry Minds.

  Action taken

  The Macmillan Canada imprint and publishing house were discontinued following Wiley’s acquisition of CDG Books.

  Aftermath

  Macmillan of Canada ceased to operate as an active publishing entity.

  Source

• 1998

  Integration into CDG BooksM&A

  Background

  Gage and Hungry Minds created CDG Books as a joint venture, providing a new corporate structure for the Macmillan Canada business.

  Action taken

  Macmillan Canada became an imprint of CDG Books.

  Aftermath

  The Macmillan Canada identity continued temporarily as an imprint before disappearing after the later acquisition of CDG Books by John Wiley & Sons.

  Source

• 1986

  Douglas Gibson leaves for McClelland & StewartOther

  Background

  Gibson had been a central editorial and publishing figure during Macmillan Canada's most influential period in Canadian literature.

  Action taken

  Douglas Gibson departed Macmillan of Canada and joined McClelland & Stewart.

  Aftermath

  The fiction division was weakened as many writers associated with Gibson followed him to the competing publisher.

  Source

• 1980

  Sale to Gage Educational Publishing CompanyM&A

  Background

  Approximately seven years after Maclean-Hunter acquired the business, it decided to sell the Canadian publishing operation.

  Action taken

  Gage Educational Publishing Company acquired Macmillan of Canada.

  Aftermath

  Macmillan Canada remained part of a larger publishing structure and later became associated with CDG Books.

  Source

• 1973

  Sale to Maclean-HunterM&A

  Background

  Macmillan of Canada was transferred from its previous ownership to Maclean-Hunter as part of the consolidation of Canadian publishing and media businesses.

  Action taken

  Maclean-Hunter acquired Macmillan of Canada.

  Aftermath

  The company continued operating under the Macmillan name until its later sale to Gage Educational Publishing Company.

  Source

1. 1Macmillan of Canadaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Macmillan Company of Canada fondslibrary.mcmaster.ca