This is a book about books and David Davidar, Founder and Co-Publisher of Aleph Book Company, is all set to make a mark in the publishing industry with The Book of Aleph . Contained within are excerpts and details about the 25 titles Aleph Book Company will publish over the course of the year; from April 2012- March, 2013.
“I'm dead against the five-star launches and parties for books, and we didn't want the usual brochures and pamphlets announcing new publications. Instead, we wanted to do something lasting to mark the publishing of each book. The Book of Aleph is mean to showcase everything this Aleph Book Company is about,” says Davidar.
Founded in May 2011, this is the Company's first list of titles, spanning writings from India and South Asia. From its conception, Aleph has concentrated on quality and range, choosing to restrict itself to a total of 25 books a year. “We want to give each book the attention it deserves. When publishing hundreds of books a year, one compromises on the attention given to each author and book, due to lack of manpower and resources. At Aleph Book Company, we are aiming to change that, and give each book our complete attention. We aim to make Aleph Book Company a premium publishing house.”
The first volume of The Book of Aleph is a beautifully bound, elegant hardback. Names like Jerry Pinto, Khushwant Singh, Ira Trivedi and Barkha Dutt, are part of the list, and each book is displayed like a fine gem, with tantalising extracts and photographs that pique curiosity.
Divided according to the seasons they will be published in, the books are a balanced mix of both non-fiction and fiction writings. A sneak peak into the next season's books and authors is also included, and a short introduction from Davidar lays out the ideology and rationale behind the Company itself. “We want every book we publish to make a statement,” says Davidar.
With The Book of Aleph , they've already made a big one.
