Background

William Targ was born on March 4, 1907, in Chicago, Illinois, United States. His name was originally William Torgownik. He was the son of Max and Esther (Solomon) Torgownik.

Education

William Targ studied at public schools.

Career

A high-school dropout with a passion for books and letterpress printing, Targ took a job as an office boy at Macmillan Publishers when he was 18. He opened his own bookstore at 22 in North Clark Street, Chicago.

From 1942 to 1964 Targ worked as an editor for the World Publishing Company, eventually becoming editor-in-chief. He then moved to G.P. Putnam's Sons where, in 1968, he bought Puzo's novel for a $5000 advance. According to the New York Times, "The Godfather" turned out to be the most profitable single novel ever published by Putnam's and the paperback rights were sold for more than $400,000.

Outside of the commercial realm, Targ was committed to the art of bookmanship and the ideals of the private press. After retiring from Putnam in 1978, he founded Targ Editions, a one-man operation he ran from his home in Greenwich Village.

Targ sought to publish works by contemporary writers that had not been previously produced in book form. The twenty-five Targ Editions include works by Henry Roth, John Updike, Saul Bellow, Tennessee Williams, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Norman Mailer - each book was a unique volume. Each book was signed by its author. The editions are limited to between 150 and 350 copies each. Copies of most of the Targ Editions volumes are housed in the Fales Library and Special Collections at New York University"s (New York University) Bobst Library.

Achievements

• William Targ is listed as a notable editor. Although Targ worked with numerous writers including Simone de Beauvoir and Art Buchwald, he is probably best known for buying Mario Puzo’s The Godfather without having read a word. The book had already been turned down by two other publishers but Targ, an editor at Putnam, found the oral pitch interesting enough to spend $5,000 and the book went on to be the company’s biggest money-making novel.

Works

More photos

• book

  • Western Story Omnibus - A Collection of Short Stories 1945
  • Carrousel for Bibliophiles 1947
  • American First Editions and Their Prices 1931
  • Bibliophile in the Nursery 1957
  • The case of Mr. Cassidy 1939
  • Targ's American First Editions & Their Prices: A checklist of the foremost American firsts 1930
  • Indecent pleasures: The life and colorful times of William Targ 1975
  • The making of the Bruce Rogers World Bible 1949
  • The Delacruze Stratagem 1989
  • Adventures in Good Reading 1940
  • Modern English First Editions and Their Prices: 1931: A Checklist of the Foremost English First Editions from 1860 to the Present Day 1932
  • Great Western Stories By America's Foremost Western Writers 1947
  • The American West 2005

Views

Quotations: "Print can be as beautiful as music lieutenant has the power to move, it is as volatile as stage magic. As a typophile and bookman, now on my own, I look more closely into the genius and works of the men and women who enriched our lives with beautiful books. I observe closely the contemporary typographic scene, the people engaged with the magical 26 letters by which we live. I don"t think the private press printer will save the world. But I think that if we are seeking the pure of heart and a wholesome commitment, such a person may be found more readily beside a hand press than, say, in an advertising agency or in the House of Representatives - or in City Hall."

Membership

William Targ was a member of Grolier and Rowfant.

Connections

On May 1, 1933, William Targ married Anne Jesselson, but his wife deceased in February 1965. On July 30, 1965, he married Roslyn Siegel. Targ had one son, Russell.

Father:

Max Torgownik

Mother:

Esther (Solomon) Torgownik

Wife:

Roslyn Siegel

late-wife:

Anne Jesselson

Son:

Russell Targ

Born on April 11, 1934.

Russell Targ is an American physicist, parapsychologist and author who is best known for his work on remote viewing.

granddaughter :

Elisabeth Targ

August 4, 1961 - July 18, 2002

Elisabeth Fischer Targ was an American psychiatrist specializing in psychic phenomena and the role of spirituality in health and healing.

Grandson:

Nicholas Targ

Grandson:

Alex Targ