Estate of play

This article explores estate publishing and how literary estates can reinvigorate sales while remaining true to the brand. With media rights company Chorion disposing of such heritage properties as Peter Rabbit, Paddington Bear, Mr Men, Eric Carle, Noddy, Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler, these are interesting times for all involved. David Brawn, estates publisher at HarperCollins (CS Lewis, Alistair MacLean, Ngaio Marsh, JRR Tolkien) is interviewed about the complicated relationship between estate and publisher, based on the sense that the work and its creator must be honoured and the huge risk of balls-up. The Tolkien estate's lawyer Cathleen Blackburn comments on the necessary balancing act. The Society of Authors looks after the estates of around 50 writers and a dozen playwrights and its head of literary estates, Jeremy Crow, describes the challenge of owners' differing priorities. The risks and gains of screen adaptations are considered, and how the estates have adapted to electronic publishing. Michael Brown, the chairman of Pooh Properties, which manages the estates of AA Milne and EH Shepard, discusses the thinking behind the new addition to the Winnie-the-Pooh canon. (Quotes from original text)