Maxwell Bodenheim is the only living American author (he was born in Mississippi) who is even more eccentric than the stories told about him. He has no table manners and little regard for the maxim concerning cleanliness. His marital state is one of perpetual uncertainty, but he has a wife and daughter. He is one of America’s best poets but only a third-rate novelist. He is firmly convinced that he is America’s only poets and a first-rate novelist. He has been in many fist fights but seldom wins.
Ben Hecht, although he is caustic and merciless in his books, is in his personal relationships, almost a “softie.” He is one of the best verbal story-tellers in New York. He has been married twice. His first wife wrote poetry, some of which was published in a slim illustrated volume. A few years ago she wrote what she thought was a devastating book about him. His second wife writes novels and wears floppy hats His favorite sport is boxing but he could never make a living in the ring. He recently forgot to celebrate his 40th birthday. Hecht and Bodenheim have written novels about each other; Hecht’s was more amusing.
Mike Gold is the kind of a fellow who, when he was invited to a “dress” party, pulled a herring out of his pocket and nibbled at it. And not because he was hungry. He has always managed to make a fairly good living. Personally, he is shy, He has a horror of “booksy” folks, speaks with a slight accent and is argumentatively opposed to the capitalist system. His best proletarian book was written with no such intention in mind. He tried to tu### The New Masses into a perso### pulpit but his communist comrad### protested so vigorously that Gold ### no longer editor of that sheet.
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.
