Their's Was the Kingdom

by John Heidenry

Here for the first time is the behind-the-scenes account of one of the greatest American success stories of this century. Second only to the Bible in its worldwide readership and, many would say, influence, the Reader's Digest has been the prime exemplar and exporter of middle-brow American culture to millions of readers for the past seven decades. The Digest's story and that of its founders DeWitt and Lila Wallace is a complex tale, replete with unforgettable. Characters, corporate infighting, geopolitical intrigue, and old-fashioned values - the last honored as much in the breach as in the observance in the hothouse atmosphere of Digest headquarters in Westchester County, New York. John Heidenry's rich narrative takes the Digest from the early years of this century when DeWitt Wallace (Wally to his friends) and his bride Lila - both PKs (or Preacher's Kids) born and reared in rural America - founded the magazine, through its. Rapid rise over seventy years. DeWitt was without doubt th