Samuel Harrison is happy. His first novel, “Yonder Lies Jericho,” is to be published this month by Appleton-Century. The short, sharp-faced, soft-spoken author takes his authorship with becoming modesty but he can’t hide the inner glow of satisfaction. It is best to feel elated before publication. Not because Harrison’s book isn’t a fine lusty tale of southwest American Jews but books have an annoying way of disappointing an author. This business of writing a book is an exacting one. “Londer Lies Jericho” was written four distinct times. Twice before a publisher saw it, then the publisher suggested changes which were made. A rejection and suggestions by literary agents, again rewriting and finally acceptance. To those of you who are interested in reading the history of a department store, Harrison’s book should prove good entertainment. The author knows that field from personal experiences. “Yonder Lies Jericho” is the type of novel about Jews that Gentiles approve.
Dr. Morris Fishbein, who spends his life exposing medical fakes, writes all his things on trains. He travels from one end of the country to the other lecturing and finds the train rides leave him with his only free time…. What Dr. Fishbein has done for the medical profession Mr. Harry Hibschman will do for lawyers. He is working on a book to be called “The Law is a Ass” which will expose the stupidity of our statutes, law makers and litigants….
David Ross, star announcer for the Columbia Broadcasting System, who won the prize for diction last year, was always known as David Rosenthal. He is a poet by instinct and was once a blurb writer in a publishing house. His consuming ambition was to be a Shakespearean actor, but his height, five feet, three inches, was against him. Behind the all concealing microphone he can boom out like a big fellow. He has contributed verse to various class publications….
People are buying books again. It is noticeable even to booksellers who are again able to eat twice a day…. Very, very few Gentile publishing houses employ Jews, practically all Jewish publishing houses hire Gentiles…. Mortimer Gasner who won a Guggenheim Fellowship for art was painting murals in a Brooklyn church. His goatee has disappeared….
Alfred King, young publisher who has followed in the footsteps of the Furmans who run Macaulay’s was not always a King. At one time the family name was Weinberg. Papa King was a successful real estate dealer…. There are no successful Jewish writers of western stories. Strangely enough most of the western writers live out in the wide open spaces and believe in the cowboy tradition…
The Jewish and anti-Nazi authors of Germany need no longer worry about publishing problems. A Dutch publisher has signed them all and will bring out their works in Holland. This method is similar to that used by modern Russian authors.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
