William Swan Sonnenschein (5 May 1855 – 31 January 1931), known from 1917 as William Swan Stallybrass, was a British publisher, editor and bibliographer.[1][2][3] His publishing firm, Swan Sonnenschein, published scholarly works in the fields of philosophy and the social sciences.[1] as well as general literature and periodicals. In 1902 he became the senior managing director of the British publishing firm George Routledge & Sons.[4][5]
Logo of W. Swan Sonnenschein & Co. (inspired by Thielman Kerver's publisher's mark).
In his youth Sonnenschein was apprenticed to the London publishers and book importers Williams and Norgate. In 1878 he founded the publishing firm, W. Swan Sonnenschein & Allen,[4] with the first of several partners, J. Archibald Allen. In 1882 the firm's name was restyled to W. Swan Sonnenschein & Co.[6] In 1895 the firm became a limited liability company.
In 1902 he left Swan Sonnenschein to work as senior managing director at the publishing house George Routledge & Sons.[4] Later he took up a position at Kegan Paul.[11]
In 1911 the firm Swan Sonnenschein became amalgamated with George Allen & Co.
Sonnenschein wrote The Best Books, a multivolume general bibliography that became a standard reference book in larger libraries for many years. Its third edition (1910) was described by The New York Times as a "valuable work".[12]
Family
He was one of six children of Adolphus (Adolf) Sonnenschein, a teacher and writer originally from Moravia (now the Czech Republic) and his first wife, Sarah Robinson Stallybrass.[4] One of his brothers was the English classical scholar Edward Adolf Sonnenschein.
He married Helena Teulon in 1882. William and Helena had two children: the jurist and university administrator William Teulon Swan Sonnenschein and Frances Helena Swan Sonnenschein.
In 1917, responding to increasing anti-German hostility in Britain during World War I, he dropped his Germanic-sounding surname "Sonnenschein" and adopted his mother's maiden name, being thereafter known as "William Swan Stallybrass". Similarly, his wife and children changed their names to Helena Stallybrass, William Teulon Swan Stallybrass and Frances Helena Swan Stallybrass respectively.[13]
Books written
The best books : a reader's guide to the choice of the best available books (about 25,000) in every department of science, art, and literature, with the dates of the first and last editions, and the prize, size and publisher's name of each book. A contribution towards classified bibliography. London: Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey & Co., 1887.
The best books : a reader's guide to the choice of the best available books (about 100,000) in every department of science, art, and literature, with the dates of the first and last editions, and the prize, size and publisher's name (both English and American) of each book. A contribution towards systematic bibliography. 3rd ed. London: George Routledge and Sons, 1910–35.[12][clarification needed]
Books edited
Esquemeling, John. The Buccaneers of America. A true account of the most remarkable assaults committed of late years upon the Coast of the West Indies by the Buccaneers of Jamaica and Tortuga, both English and French. London: George Routledge, n.d. [1923]. A translation of the 1684–85 revision and edited by W. S. Stalleybrass. With an introduction by Andrew Lang. XX, 480, 8pp. With frontispiece, 10 full-page plates, and text figures.
The Epic of the Beast, Consisting of English Translations of The History of Reynard the Fox and Physiologus. London: George Routledge & Sons Ltd., 1924. Text of "Reynard" as translated and printed by William Caxton in 1481 and modernised here by William Swan Stallybrass. Introduction by William Rose. Glossarial index and notes to Caxton's words and phrases. "Physiologus" translated, with an introduction, by James Carlill. Illustrated throughout with Kaulbach plates. xxxviii + 277 pp.
References
^ ab "Sonnenschein, William Swan". The Oxford Companion to the Book.
^Richard Aldington, Richard Aldington: An Autobiography in Letters. Norman T. Gates, ed. Pennsylvania State University Press, 1992. p. 391.
^ abcd "Stallybrass, William Swan", in: Who Was Who 1929–1940: A Companion to Who's Who, Containing the Biographies of Those Who Died During the Period 1929–1940. London: Adam & Charles Black, 1967. 2nd edition. (Who Was Who, Vol. III.). p. 1277.
^ Ann Parry, "Swan Sonnenschein Limited; Swan Sonnenschein and Allen; Swan Sonnenschein, Lowrey and Company; Swan Sonnenschein and Company", in: Patricia Anderson and Jonathan Rose, ed. British Literary Publishing Houses, 1820–1880. Vol. 106 of: Dictionary of Literary Biography, Detroit: Gale, 1991.
^FOB: Firms Out of Business, Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin.
^"Swan Sonnenschein & Co.", Social Networks and Archival Contexts.
^ ab Review of William Swan Sonnenschein's The Best Books, 3rd Edition, in: "Literary Notes from Paris", The New York Times, 27 August 1910.
^Michael P. Stallybrass. "The Stallybrass Family and Their Medieval Ancestors". Self-published (people.math.gatech.edu/~stallybr). 6 February 2012.
Further reading
Frank Arthur Mumby and Frances Helena Swan Stallybrass, From Swan Sonnenschein to George Allen & Unwin Ltd. London: Allen & Unwin, 1955. With an introduction by Dr. John Murray.
External links
Media related to William Swan Sonnenschein at Wikimedia Commons
William Swan Sonnenschein at Library of Congress Authorities, with 10 catalogue records
W. S. W. Anson at LC Authorities, with 6 records
Archives of Swan Sonnenschein & Co, at Archives Hub
March 04, 2023
william, swan, sonnenschein, 1855, january, 1931, known, from, 1917, william, swan, stallybrass, british, publisher, editor, bibliographer, publishing, firm, swan, sonnenschein, published, scholarly, works, fields, philosophy, social, sciences, well, general, . William Swan Sonnenschein 5 May 1855 31 January 1931 known from 1917 as William Swan Stallybrass was a British publisher editor and bibliographer 1 2 3 His publishing firm Swan Sonnenschein published scholarly works in the fields of philosophy and the social sciences 1 as well as general literature and periodicals In 1902 he became the senior managing director of the British publishing firm George Routledge amp Sons 4 5 William Swan SonnenscheinIllustrated London News 6 November 1909Born 1855 05 05 5 May 1855United KingdomDied31 January 1931 1931 01 31 aged 75 United KingdomNationalityBritishOther namesWilliam Swan Stallybrass W S W AnsonScientific careerFieldsPublishing editing bibliographyInstitutionsWilliams and Norgate W Swan Sonnenschein amp Co George Routledge amp Sons Contents 1 Career 2 Family 3 Books written 4 Books edited 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksCareer Edit Logo of W Swan Sonnenschein amp Co inspired by Thielman Kerver s publisher s mark In his youth Sonnenschein was apprenticed to the London publishers and book importers Williams and Norgate In 1878 he founded the publishing firm W Swan Sonnenschein amp Allen 4 with the first of several partners J Archibald Allen In 1882 the firm s name was restyled to W Swan Sonnenschein amp Co 6 In 1895 the firm became a limited liability company Under him the firm published several renowned book series including the Library of Philosophy 1890 1911 7 and the Social Science Series 8 The firm also acquired a reputation for publishing radical works including those of George Bernard Shaw 9 Karl Marx and Edward Carpenter Other major authors published were J M Barrie Henry James George Meredith and George Moore He was a member of the Ethical Society and published its literature 10 In 1902 he left Swan Sonnenschein to work as senior managing director at the publishing house George Routledge amp Sons 4 Later he took up a position at Kegan Paul 11 In 1911 the firm Swan Sonnenschein became amalgamated with George Allen amp Co Sonnenschein wrote The Best Books a multivolume general bibliography that became a standard reference book in larger libraries for many years Its third edition 1910 was described by The New York Times as a valuable work 12 Family EditHe was one of six children of Adolphus Adolf Sonnenschein a teacher and writer originally from Moravia now the Czech Republic and his first wife Sarah Robinson Stallybrass 4 One of his brothers was the English classical scholar Edward Adolf Sonnenschein He married Helena Teulon in 1882 William and Helena had two children the jurist and university administrator William Teulon Swan Sonnenschein and Frances Helena Swan Sonnenschein In 1917 responding to increasing anti German hostility in Britain during World War I he dropped his Germanic sounding surname Sonnenschein and adopted his mother s maiden name being thereafter known as William Swan Stallybrass Similarly his wife and children changed their names to Helena Stallybrass William Teulon Swan Stallybrass and Frances Helena Swan Stallybrass respectively 13 Books written EditThe best books a reader s guide to the choice of the best available books about 25 000 in every department of science art and literature with the dates of the first and last editions and the prize size and publisher s name of each book A contribution towards classified bibliography London Swan Sonnenschein Lowrey amp Co 1887 The best books a reader s guide to the choice of the best available books about 100 000 in every department of science art and literature with the dates of the first and last editions and the prize size and publisher s name both English and American of each book A contribution towards systematic bibliography 3rd ed London George Routledge and Sons 1910 35 12 clarification needed Books edited EditEsquemeling John The Buccaneers of America A true account of the most remarkable assaults committed of late years upon the Coast of the West Indies by the Buccaneers of Jamaica and Tortuga both English and French London George Routledge n d 1923 A translation of the 1684 85 revision and edited by W S Stalleybrass With an introduction by Andrew Lang XX 480 8pp With frontispiece 10 full page plates and text figures The Epic of the Beast Consisting of English Translations of The History of Reynard the Fox and Physiologus London George Routledge amp Sons Ltd 1924 Text of Reynard as translated and printed by William Caxton in 1481 and modernised here by William Swan Stallybrass Introduction by William Rose Glossarial index and notes to Caxton s words and phrases Physiologus translated with an introduction by James Carlill Illustrated throughout with Kaulbach plates xxxviii 277 pp References Edit a b Sonnenschein William Swan The Oxford Companion to the Book Richard Aldington Richard Aldington An Autobiography in Letters Norman T Gates ed Pennsylvania State University Press 1992 p 391 Reading University Special Collections Services Reference Number s GB 6 RUL MSS 3280 3282 4058 a b c d Stallybrass William Swan in Who Was Who 1929 1940 A Companion to Who s Who Containing the Biographies of Those Who Died During the Period 1929 1940 London Adam amp Charles Black 1967 2nd edition Who Was Who Vol III p 1277 Ann Parry Swan Sonnenschein Limited Swan Sonnenschein and Allen Swan Sonnenschein Lowrey and Company Swan Sonnenschein and Company in Patricia Anderson and Jonathan Rose ed British Literary Publishing Houses 1820 1880 Vol 106 of Dictionary of Literary Biography Detroit Gale 1991 FOB Firms Out of Business Harry Ransom Center The University of Texas at Austin Mumby and Stallybrass p 37 Social Science Series Swan Sonnenschein amp Co Book Series List publishinghistory com Retrieved 21 January 2019 Michel W Pharand Bernard Shaw and His Publishers University of Toronto Press 2009 pp 10 14 17 and 223 Mumby and Stallybrass p 36 Swan Sonnenschein amp Co Social Networks and Archival Contexts a b Review of William Swan Sonnenschein s The Best Books 3rd Edition in Literary Notes from Paris The New York Times 27 August 1910 Michael P Stallybrass The Stallybrass Family and Their Medieval Ancestors Self published people math gatech edu stallybr 6 February 2012 Further reading EditFrank Arthur Mumby and Frances Helena Swan Stallybrass From Swan Sonnenschein to George Allen amp Unwin Ltd London Allen amp Unwin 1955 With an introduction by Dr John Murray External links Edit Media related to William Swan Sonnenschein at Wikimedia Commons William Swan Sonnenschein at Library of Congress Authorities with 10 catalogue records W S W Anson at LC Authorities with 6 records Archives of Swan Sonnenschein amp Co at Archives Hub Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Swan Sonnenschein amp oldid 1060834700, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
