Springer-Verlag: History of a Scientific Publishing House

Book excerpt: This book describes the fortunes and activities of one of the few specialist publishing houses still in the hands of the same family that established it over years ago, and with it gives a p- trayal of those members who directed it. In doing so it covers a period of momentous historical events that directly and in- rectly shaped the firm's actions and achievements. But this volume tells not only, in word and picture, the story of Springer- Verlag but also, interwoven with it, the story of scientific p- lishing in Germany over the span of a hundred years. The text, densely packed with carefully researched facts and figures, is illuminated and supplemented by many illustrations whose captions, together with the author's notes, contain a wealth of important and interesting information. The reader is urged to read these captions as well as the notes so as to - preciate in full the events and people described. I have added a few footnotes to clarify or expand on some matters that may be unfamiliar to non-German readers. Because of the long period of time covered in these pages many of the documents and letters shown and commented upon are different in diction and style from those of today. An - tempt was made in the translation to keep the flavour of the original language and not contemporise it.