Cover Stories: John Murray, Faber

¿ Those who worried that Hodder's purchase of John Murray signalled the end of civilisation must be relieved to hear that the new MD is the Old Etonian grandson of Rosamond Lehmann. Roland Philipps, who as publishing director of Hodder & Stoughton presided over novels by writers such as Justin Cartwright as well as memoirs by Oxbridge-educated politicos (and Mo Mowlam), takes up the reins in September. Philipps, whose stepfather is John Julius Norwich, is promising to restore Murray to glory, relaunching its fiction list and polishing up backlist jewels for paperback. With JM's ever-profitable education list adding to the group's bottom line, Hodder CEO Tim Hely Hutchinson can afford such indulgences.

¿The new team at Faber has signalled a less precious approach to the titles it publishes. Pentagram, whose cover designs seemed so exciting 20 years ago, has been politely told that its artistic skills are no longer required for every jacket. With Cats, that lucrative TS Eliot royalty source, put to sleep, Faber can no longer afford to publish only to the broadsheet market. Thus the firm has trumpeted To Reach the Clouds, Philippe Petit's memoir of his high-wire act between the late Twin Towers in 1974. When Faber publishes in February, it will be in an aptly tall and skinny format. As if that weren't enough, Faber's Peter Carey, winner of last year's Booker prize, has completed his new novel, His Life as a Fake, more than six months early.