Betty A. Prashker, one of the first women to rise high in publishing’s editorial ranks and an enterprising editor of feminist nonfiction, died on July 30 at her daughter’s home in the Berkshires. She was 99.
After graduating from Vassar College in 1945, Prashker took a job as a copyeditor at Doubleday, which she left in 1950. In 1966—after getting married, having three daughters, and working two other jobs—she rejoined the house, where she became a v-p, associate publisher, and editorial director, publishing works by such authors as William F. Buckley Jr., Phyllis Chesler, and Gay Talese.
Prashker left Doubleday for Crown Publishing in 1982. There, she rose to SVP and editor-in-chief, and helped launch the careers of such authors as Jean Auel, Dominick Dunne, Judith Krantz, and Erik Larson. In all, she is estimated to have edited more than 500 books. In 1998, she transitioned into an editor-at-large role at Crown, where she continued to edit for more than 13 years. That same year, she was named one of 200 Women Legends, Influencers, and Trailblazers by Vanity Fair.
From the start of her career, Prashker was known as a fierce advocate for women’s rights, a reputation she cemented in 1970 with Kate Millett’s Sexual Politics, which she edited while working at Doubleday. In 1991, she edited Susan Faludi’s Backlash: The Undeclared War Against Women, published by Crown.
During her time at Doubleday, Prashker was denied membership to the male-only publishing hangout Century Club—even though she had the backing of six club members, including Buckley. When private clubs were eventually forced to allow women to join, Prashker said that she had no intention of presenting her old letters of recommendation.
“It was the Groucho Marx idea,” she explained. “The important thing to do was to desegregate the place.”
In addition to her daughters, Susan P. (Geoffrey) Herman, Lucy (Thomas Curtin) Prashker, and Marti P. Murray, Prashker leaves six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.