For instance, though London Guardian contributor Hilary Mantel did concede that the 'book has plentiful and interesting illustrations and is obviously the product of many years of wide reading,' she still found it implausible. Indeed, according to San Francisco Chronicle critic Simon Maxwell Apter, 'when the book was released in Britain last fall, some reviewers felt it best to hedge their bets against classic British prankishness by insisting that they were still not completely convinced that Mark Booth's effort … wasn't an elaborate hoax.' Indeed, the book goes so far as to offer reinterpretations of the Bible and other ancient texts, thus ruffling many critics' feathers. The book sparked a great deal of controversy and contention, and there were many detractors. Its subject matter, which is clearly laid out in the title, tackles the topic of secret societies and their version of major world events and texts. While Booth maintains his love of publishing, his book took the publishing world by storm. I don't think I'd ever want to give that up.' I really enjoy the soap opera aspects of working in a big company. I work with smart, attractive, intelligent, funny people…. He told Bookseller contributor Katherine Rushton that Century Publishing 'has a very unique character … it's very unofficious, slightly subversive and not very corporate. Yet, despite his success as an author, Booth has stated that publishing is his first love.

Indeed, the American edition of the book was published under Booth's real name. However, after the book was released, it received a great deal of media attention, and Booth's identity was soon revealed. Because Booth has had a twenty-year career in the British publishing industry, he secretly wrote his first book, The Secret History of the World: As Laid Down by the Secret Societies, and sent it to prospective publishers under the pseudonym Jonathan Black.

From there, Booth became a well-established publishing executive. Indeed, he began his career as a bookseller at Waterstone's before being asked to create an imprint for the bookstore. Mark Booth has worked as an editor and publishing director at Century Publishing. (Also published under the pseudonym Jonathan Black) The Secret History of the World: As Laid Down by the Secret Societies, Overlook Press ( New York, NY), 2008. Waterstone's, bookseller and cofounder of Waterstone's publishing, 1983 Sidgwick and Jackson publishers, cofounder of Lennard Publishing, 1986 Century Publishing, began as editorial director, 1988, became publishing director, 2000. Education: Attended Oxford University, 1974-77. Booth, Mark 1955- (Jonathan Black) PERSONAL:īorn 1955, in Cambridge, England.

Jonathan black history of the world