In a move that lies somewhere between a new imprint and title acquisition, Rizzoli's Universe imprint has bought the backlist of City & Co., a small press known for New York's Best 50 Places to Find Peace and Quiet and other guides to the city. In addition to reviving and updating 15 of these books, Universe will also publish new ones in the same vein as the originals.
City & Co. was founded in 1994 by Helene Silver, who published titles on subjects such as the most kid-friendly sites in the city and the best places in New York to get married. She has been taking a break in the last few years, but will serve as a consultant to Universe.
"I don't think these books have ever really gone away," said Rizzoli USA publisher Charles Miers, explaining why it would not take an enormous effort to reintroduce them to readers and retailers. Kathleen Jayes, the Universe senior editor overseeing the line, plans to revive five titles this winter. The press will also bring out a new book, Literary Landmarks, a listing of book-related stops in the city.
