Remembering Long-time AUC Press Director Mark Linz
Werner Mark Linz, director of the American University in Cairo Press for more than 25 years, and champion of Arabic literature in translation through good times and bad, died early this morning.
Linz had left AUC Press in January of 2012 after nearly 20 years with the publishing house. He died Saturday after a struggle with cancer.
Linz was a genial, enthusiastic publisher,
who first joined the AUC Press in 1983, and then returned again in 1995. Previous to that, he held senior executive positions with MacGraw Hill and Seabury Press in the 1960s and 1970s. According to Arab News, took AUCP’s business from 400,000 publications to 40 million. But while playing a significant role in Arabic translation, he generally kept the spotlight on his authors. Even in the profile Ahram Weekly did of Linz in 2010, in celebration of the AUCP’s 50th anniversary, he redirected the gaze to his staff:
“AUC Press is the leading English-language publishing house in this part of the world,” he repeated, suddenly becoming serious. And then he mentioned his staff. They may not look it, but these men and women are on the frontline in the battle against bigotry and zealotry. “Colleagues share our commitment and significant contribution to culture dialogue.”
More memories of Linz to come. Meantime, remember him by watching his reflections on 50 years of AUCP:
February 9, 2013 @ 8:49 pm
I was saddened to hear of the death of Mark Linz.
I have very fond memories of his regular visits to Dubai and his warm and infectious humour.
He will be sadly missed for his encyclopaedic knowledge of the world of books, the writers, the publishers and those with a literary interest in the Middle East,
February 11, 2013 @ 4:39 pm
Mark brought me to Cairo in 1998 where I lived and worked for 8 years. He had a tremendous influence on what I know about publishing and I continue to work in the industry. He will be greatly missed.
Sharing Memories of Mark Linz | Arabic Literature (in English)
March 15, 2013 @ 11:41 am
[…] Linz passed away early on the morning on February 9, 2013, Arabic literature lost a great friend, a delightful companion, and passionate advocate. In […]