Among the Literati

Irate creditors having given up, and the referee in bankruptcy having been convinced that there weren’t any more assets, Arthur Pell finds himself once again in quiet possession of what is left of the Liveright Publishing Corp. Tommy Smith continues as editor and a Spring list has been announced, a rather abbreviated one, but nevertheless a list. The only familiar name is that of Jacob Wassermann.

The country will not only be deluged with liquor but it will also be overwhelmed with books on the subject. So far, I have counted 27 distinct volumes, each dealing with some phase of drinking. They range from dissertations on the making of wine to elaborate and confusing loose-leaf cocktail manuals gotten out for bartenders (as if a bartender would admit he needed a book!) The result is that the market will be glutted and none of these drinking recipes will sell. Publishers act as though drinking had just been discovered and is a new toy everybody is going to try. You don’t have to know how to read to take a drink. Following the other fellow is one of the favorite pastimes of publishers. Just gaze at the number of books published on Russia, or on the War, Technocracy, or even Herbert Hoover! Unlike the movies, where one company imitates another’s successes, publishers are even willing to duplicate a competitor’s failures!

NEWS, MORE OR LESS

What Jewish novelist and newspaperman is going to write a laudatory biography of what Italian judge and how much is he going to get for it? No reward offered for further information.

Fannie Hurst continues to stay within range of the spotlight. During the past month she appeared at the opening of a new Trans-Lux theatre, attended the anniversary ceremonies of a department store, signed a protest against the conviction of one of the Scottsboro boys, gave a tea for some cause or other and managed to express herself in the daily press on a multitude of subjects. One of these days she is going to begin writing letters to the Editor.

Aben Kandel stopped work on his novel and dashed off to Hollywood on a short-term contract. The movie boys want Aben to put the finishing touches on a script or two. He expects to be back in about a month.

If that New York daily folds according to schedule, the only Jewish literary editor in New York will be looking for work.

Simon & Schuster have come out in the open and divorced their trick books from the usual trade publications. They are starting a game, card and novelty department. Soon you’ll be able to go into the Inner Sanctum and come out with Christmas presents for the entire family.

Pascal Covici, the book publisher, is playing with the idea of starting a magazine which he calls “The Yellow Cat”, a Journal of Gossip, Crime and Murder. It will not be the former Chicagoan’s first magazine venture as he has “The Chicago Literary Times” and “Exiles” to his credit. The first number is due for late Spring appearance.

Admittedly broke, Samuel Harrison, the modest author of “Yonder Lies Jericho”, now finds himself far removed from the breadline. He received word that his novel has been bought by Paramount, which will make a picture of it. The price reported was $10,000 but the actual money passed was $5,500. The movie sale was a double balm, for it makes up to Harrison for the small royalty check he will get from his publisher next month.

This has been a lush season for “vanity” books. The uninitiated should know that a “vanity” book is a publication paid for by the author. The publisher merely allows the use of his imprint. You would imagine that books of this type would be more in evidence in good times but the contrary seems to be true. Perhaps it is because in good times publishers refuse to place them on their lists. There are few publishers who have not at least one such publication. They are invariably unsuccessful.

The first full-length biography of Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo is making the rounds of the publishing houses. It was written by Percival Pollard of Colorado Springs.

Most of the New York publishers are sitting in front of Prof. Einstein’s home at Princeton, N. J., in the hopes of getting the great scientist’s book which will be published in Holland in the Spring.

There is a new general manager at Alfred Knopf’s, the same gentle man who some years ago stepped into Harper’s and put that now flourishing firm on its feet. His entrance into the affairs of the concern must not be interpreted to mean that Mr. Knopf needs any bolstering.

Despite the yowl that things are terrible, most of the publishing houses will pass out raises at the end of this year, which means that the boys and girls responsible for your reading matter will be making an almost living wage once again.