American Book Award: Remembrance of Things Past
9/22/2020Recently I was learning to bake petite Madeleines in Dominique Ansel’s Masterclass when I was reminded of Marcel Proust’s Remembrance of Things Past, (Volume1), Swann’s Way where the main character, Swann, spoke of the exquisite pleasure at eating these plump little cakes. (For those of you who haven’t waited on line for hours at his Soho bakery, Dominique Ansel is a world-famous pastry chef and creator of the popular Cronut.) I recalled one of my most thrilling remembrances that I’d like to share with you.
Early in my professional journey, as Special Projects Designer at Random House, I won the American Book Award for the design of Marcel Proust’s classic trilogy Remembrance of Things Past. It was 1982.
The American Book Awards was established by the Association of American Publishers to honor books of special merit and provide recognition for “outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America's diverse literary community.” Those recognized are involved in different aspects of book creation—authors, critics, typesetters, designers, etc.
The co-hosts of this award presentation were William F. Buckley Jr. and Barbara Walters. And William Styron, Barbara Tuchman and Fran Lebowitz among the award winners. Delivering an acceptance speech on the stage of Carnegie Hall in that room full of luminaries is one of my proudest remembrances.
Marcel Proust, the American Book Award and Madeleines…life’s exquisite morsels continue to amaze me. What amazes you?
Article by Janet Odgis, Odgis + Company
Odgis + Co is an award-winning certified woman-owned brand design studio based in New York City. We Make Business Beautiful.
Early in my professional journey, as Special Projects Designer at Random House, I won the American Book Award for the design of Marcel Proust’s classic trilogy Remembrance of Things Past. It was 1982.
The American Book Awards was established by the Association of American Publishers to honor books of special merit and provide recognition for “outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America's diverse literary community.” Those recognized are involved in different aspects of book creation—authors, critics, typesetters, designers, etc.
The co-hosts of this award presentation were William F. Buckley Jr. and Barbara Walters. And William Styron, Barbara Tuchman and Fran Lebowitz among the award winners. Delivering an acceptance speech on the stage of Carnegie Hall in that room full of luminaries is one of my proudest remembrances.
Marcel Proust, the American Book Award and Madeleines…life’s exquisite morsels continue to amaze me. What amazes you?
Article by Janet Odgis, Odgis + Company
Odgis + Co is an award-winning certified woman-owned brand design studio based in New York City. We Make Business Beautiful.
