Nicholas Trübner
Nicholas Trübner | |
|---|---|
| Born | Nikolaus Trübner Template:Birth date |
| Died | March 20, 1884 (aged 66) |
| Occupation(s) | Publisher, bookseller, scholar of languages |
| Known for | Publishing Samuel Butler's Erewhon; founder of Trübner's American and Oriental Record; Trübner's Oriental Series |
Nicholas Trübner (born Nikolaus Trübner; 17 June 1817 – 20 March 1884) was a German-English publisher, bookseller, and scholar of languages.
Early life
Trübner, the firstborn child of a goldsmith from Heidelberg, entered the world on 17 June 1817 and received his education at a local gymnasium. In 1831, he commenced a six-year apprenticeship with the Heidelberg bookseller Mohr. Subsequently, he gained experience working for Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht in Göttingen, Hoffmann und Campe in Hamburg, and Wilmann in Frankfurt.
In London
Trübner relocated to London in 1843 after William Longman offered him a position as foreign correspondent based in Frankfurt. By 1851, he had formed a partnership with Thomas Delf and acquired the American literary agency previously owned by Wiley & Putnam. Although the enterprise initially faced difficulties, the involvement of David Nutt brought stability and broadened its reach within the American market.
In 1855, Trübner released his Bibliographical Guide to American Literature, which he considerably expanded by 1859. He traveled to the United States to build relationships with leading American authors and publishers.
His business focused on importing books from countries such as the United States and India, distributing them worldwide to both booksellers and private clients.
Scholarly publisher
Operating in London as both a general publisher and foreign agent, Trübner notably published Samuel Butler’s Erewhon in 1872 after it was declined by Chapman & Hall.
A linguist by training, he studied Sanskrit under Theodor Goldstücker and Hebrew with Abraham Benisch. In 1865, he founded Trübner's American and Oriental Record, which promoted scholarly exchange across nations. Beginning in 1878, his Trübner's Oriental Series issued nearly fifty volumes related to Eastern studies during his lifetime. Additionally, he curated the English and Foreign Philosophical Library, dedicated to philosophical works.
In 1872, Trübner compiled a Catalogue of Dictionaries and Grammars of the principal Languages and Dialects of the World, which saw an expanded edition in 1882. He also published catalogues encompassing various languages and academic fields while serving as publisher for government documents and learned societies including the Royal Asiatic Society and Early English Text Society.
Trübner's Record was a periodical listing newly published titles. It began in 1865 as Trübner's American and Oriental Literary Record, broadened its scope in 1880 to cover European publications, and continued until 1891.
The hardback series Trübner's Oriental Series was initiated by Trübner & Co. in 1878; from 1890 onward it was issued by Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., Ltd.
Later life
Throughout his career, Trübner worked alongside distinguished individuals such as Douglas Jerrold, G. H. Lewes, Hepworth Dixon, W. R. Greg, John Doran, and Bret Harte. His scholarly achievements earned him numerous international accolades including the Crown of Prussia, the Ernestine Branch of Saxony, Austria’s Francis Joseph, Norway’s St. Olaf, the Lion of Zähringen, and Siam’s White Elephant.
He passed away at his residence located at 29 Upper Hamilton Terrace, Maida Vale, on 30 March 1884, survived by one daughter. His final resting place is in the eastern section of Highgate Cemetery.
Works
Trübner's literary contributions encompass translations from Flemish, notably Hendrik Conscience's Sketches of Flemish Life (1846), as well as from German, including selections from Brunnhofer's Life of Giordano Bruno, Scheffel's Die Schweden in Rippoldsau, and Eckstein's Eternal Laws of Morality. He also wrote a memoir about Joseph Octave Delepierre, his father-in-law and the Belgian consul in London, and gathered resources for a history focused on classical book trade. In 1857, he took on the role of editor and expanded Hermann Ludewig's manuscript entitled The Literature of American Aboriginal Languages.