Anna Porter: Publishing Political
Profile by Jessica de Mello
Photo by Yanka Van der Kolk Imaging and Photography
TDR Interveiw with Anna Porter
If you are jailed as a political prisoner at the age of six, escape on
foot from a totalitarian state, attend Catholic boarding school in a
foreign language, and scrub toilets at a mental hospital to pay for
your higher education, you may be tough enough for the world of
publishing, considers Anna Porter. These experiences, among others,
certainly helped her to prepare for a successful stint as CEO and
founder of Key Porter Books, and are also behind her recent foray
into
non-fiction.
The newly released Kasztner's Train (Douglas & McIntyre,
2007), is an engaging,
thoroughly-researched work of non-fiction, and Anna's seventh book. It is
an examination of personal courage in a time of overwhelming moral ambiguity. The subject matter is weighty and sobering – sentiments
that are evident in her voice as she explains the final processes.
"I have tried so hard with this book," she says. "I don't think I
have
ever tried this hard at anything in my professional life. This book
is
so important. The questions raised here are timeless – what does a
moral person do when faced with injustice? What are we doing about
the
genocide in Darfur? These are timeless issues, unfortunately."
Anna moved to New Zealand in 1956 to escape the Hungarian revolution,
after living under its increasingly tense and brutal foreshadowing.
Her father was "nabbed by the Russians" when she was very young, and
in order to support the family her mother took the unusual job of
railroad surveyor. She describes it as a time when absolutely no one
could be trusted and everyone's identity was in doubt. The family's
first attempt to escape the country landed both six-year old Anna and
her mother in prison for a few months. Anna was 12 years old when her
family successfully walked out of their country.
A Catholic boarding school in New Zealand, administered by nuns,
accepted her as their only refugee student. She learned the English
language and some semblance of religious training through an
unpleasant immersion. At 18 she left the convent school to attend the
University of Canterbury. There she completed Bachelor of Arts and
Masters of Arts degrees, both in English Literature. She loved poetry
and hers was published in Hungary at a young age.
While a university student, Anna worked first as a maid in a mental
hospital and then at a bookstore, owned by a publishing company in
New
Zealand. Her first job was as a proofreader. She then moved to
England
and worked in marketing and sales for a larger publishing house,
which
would prompt a trip to Canada.
She never meant to stay in Toronto, but it has been a successful
stint. It was here that she assumed her first editorial role, with
McClelland & Stewart at the age of 25. Here she also met her husband
to be - a lawyer who, after seeing her photograph on the society
pages
of Toronto Life magazine, called her repeatedly (even providing
references!) until she consented to meet for a coffee. She also
became
very close to publisher Jack McClelland; an influence and mentor to
her throughout her career.
In her first ten years of Canadian life she became president and
publisher of Seal Books, a company partially founded by McClelland &
Stewart. Like her mentor and friend Jack, Anna developed close
relationships with Canadian authors, most of whom remain her friends
today. By 1979, Anna knew every facet of the industry and was at ease
when launching her own business, Key Porter Books.
She wrote The Storyteller: Memory, Secrets, Magic and Lies as a way
of
introducing her children to her life story and the people who most
influenced it, like her Grandfather. Three murder mysteries followed;
"A great and amusing release", she calls them with her typically wry
humour, "There's nothing more satisfying than killing someone in a
book who you are disgusted with in real life. Those books are also
very funny, though; a great release for the reader as well as the
writer."
Kasztner's Train required Anna to read over
300
books in 3 languages, find and read primary documents, and to travel
all over the world for interviews. The film rights have been bought,
and at present she is working on 100 additional footnotes for the
American release. Anna is convinced that she is more familiar with
the
subject of her book than anyone in the world, including his own
family. The subject of the book is Rezso Kasztner, who directly
negotiated for the lives of 1684 Jewish Europeans, and saved an
additional 20 000 more during the Holocaust. Like many issues
surrounding the topic of genocide, the means and extent to which
Kasztner acted is controversial. Anna is convinced that he is a hero.
But she is ready for the acclaim and accusations that will come.
Her own dedication to personal ethics is evident in the grand array
of
Canadian associations with whom she is involved. Soulpepper Theatre,
Schulich School of Business, World Wildlife Fund and PEN Canada
continue to benefit from her input and intellect. In 1992, Anna
Porter
was awarded the Order of Canada for her efforts to promote Canadian
literary talent abroad. She has been awarded Honorary Doctoral
degrees
from Ryerson University, St. Mary's University, and the Law Society
of
Upper Canada.
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