Emailing While Drunk Part XXXVII: Hitler
Tue Feb 21, 02:16 PM by Skylab Smith
At one time, every newlywed couple in Germany received as a gift a copy of their Chancellor’s book, Mein Kampf. It’s a classic story in some ways. Sales of the book were sluggish until the author rose to supreme power and dictated that his government buy the book and make it required reading; in the end it turned out maybe more people should have read the book earlier, because some things might have not happened the same way – but to add insult to injury, a bunch of people, millions actually, read the book now that it is too late.
There are a lot of really great articles about this complicated issue. But this isn’t one of them.
——Original Message Follows——
From: skylab*%#@gmail.com
To: inquiries@hmco.com
Subject: Proceeds from Mein Kampf
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 20:37:48
Hi, I understand that Mariner, a subsidiary of Houghton Mifflin, publishes “Mein Kampf.” I’m curious to know where proceeds from the sales of this book go. Thanks in advance for your help.
Sincerely,
Sky Smith
——Original Message Follows——
From: Nicole_Peaslee@hmco.com
To: skylab*%#@gmail.com
Subject: Re: Proceeds from Mein Kampf
Date: Thu, 12 Jan 2006 11:54:06 -0500
Dear Sky Smith,
Houghton Mifflin donates 100% of the profits generated from Mein Kampf to support nonprofit organizations whose educational mission is to promote racial and religious understanding. Organizations that have received grants from the Houghton Mifflin Fund for Racial and Religious Understanding include the Anti-Defamation League, Educators for Social Responsibility, Facing History and Ourselves, National Conference for Community and Justice, and Simon Wiesenthal Center Museum of Tolerance.
Houghton Mifflin has been the American publisher of Mein Kampf since 1933. However, the Company did not acquire the rights to the book until 1979. Up until that point, all profits from Houghton Mifflin’s publication of the book were retained by the U.S. Government. All the profits from publishing the book, from 1979 to today, have been donated to nonprofit organizations with the goal of establishing greater racial and religious understanding. In other words, we use the profits to counteract the ideals published in Hitler’s book.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
Nicole Peaslee
Executive Assistant to
Collin Earnst, VP Corporate Communications
Houghton Mifflin Company
phone: 617-351-5020
www.hmco.com
nicole_peaslee@hmco.com
On 2/16/06, Skylab
Dear Ms. Peaslee,
Thank you for your diligent reply to my email about Mein Kampf. I wrote my original query late on a Friday night when I was in a darkly introspective mood, thinking about the strange and powerful celebrity of “evil” people and, quite honestly, under the influence of alcohol. I did not mean to be rude in any way, and I am very happy – though not at all surprised – to know that the profits from Houghton Mifflin’s publication of Hitler’s famous book are used in such a responsible way. I really appreciate your taking the time to answer my question. The publisher of Mussolini’s autobiography never got back to me.
Sincerely,
Sky Smith
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