Bernard Smith (editor)
Encyclopedia
Bernard Smith was an American
literary editor
, film producer
, and literary critic. He is best remembered for his work at the Knopf publishing house, where he edited B. Traven
, Raymond Chandler
, and Dashiell Hammett
, and Langston Hughes
.
He attended City University of New York
, and in 1928 began working for Alfred A. Knopf
, where he was eventually made simultaneously editor-in-chief and managing editor. There Smith was Traven's first American editor, and took a free hand in revising Traven's initially rough English.
In 1939 Smith published his Forces in American Criticism, a historical and critical survey of American literature and literary criticism from a Marxist
perspective. Smith, though never a Communist Party member, was a committed Marxist; but the book was undogmatic and was well-received in the mainstream literary academy, including favorable notice from critics such as Austin Warren
.
Smith moved in 1947 to Hollywood, where he worked in the film industry, first for Samuel Goldwyn
as a script editor. In 1950 he became an independent producer, working on films such as Elmer Gantry
and How the West was Won
. In 1963 he partnered as a producer with director John Ford
, making films such as Cheyenne Autumn
.
In 1994 Smith published a memoir, A World Remembered: 1925-1950. He edited volumes including The Democratic Spirit: A Collection of American Writings From the Earliest Times to the Present Day (1941), Books That Changed Our Minds, and The Holiday Reader with Philip Van Doren Stern
. His work also included studies published in the 1940s of the painters Moses Soyer
and David Burliuk
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
literary editor
Literary editor
A literary editor is an editor in a newspaper, magazine or similar publication who deals with aspects concerning literature and books, especially reviews. A literary editor may also help with editing books themselves, by providing services such as proof reading, copy-editing, and literary...
, film producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
, and literary critic. He is best remembered for his work at the Knopf publishing house, where he edited B. Traven
B. Traven
B. Traven was the pen name of a German novelist, whose real name, nationality, date and place of birth and details of biography are all subject to dispute. A rare certainty is that B...
, Raymond Chandler
Raymond Chandler
Raymond Thornton Chandler was an American novelist and screenwriter.In 1932, at age forty-five, Raymond Chandler decided to become a detective fiction writer after losing his job as an oil company executive during the Depression. His first short story, "Blackmailers Don't Shoot", was published in...
, and Dashiell Hammett
Dashiell Hammett
Samuel Dashiell Hammett was an American author of hard-boiled detective novels and short stories, and political activist. Among the enduring characters he created are Sam Spade , Nick and Nora Charles , and the Continental Op .In addition to the significant influence his novels and stories had on...
, and Langston Hughes
Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance...
.
He attended City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
, and in 1928 began working for Alfred A. Knopf
Alfred A. Knopf
Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. is a New York publishing house, founded by Alfred A. Knopf, Sr. in 1915. It was acquired by Random House in 1960 and is now part of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group at Random House. The publishing house is known for its borzoi trademark , which was designed by co-founder...
, where he was eventually made simultaneously editor-in-chief and managing editor. There Smith was Traven's first American editor, and took a free hand in revising Traven's initially rough English.
In 1939 Smith published his Forces in American Criticism, a historical and critical survey of American literature and literary criticism from a Marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
perspective. Smith, though never a Communist Party member, was a committed Marxist; but the book was undogmatic and was well-received in the mainstream literary academy, including favorable notice from critics such as Austin Warren
Austin Warren
Austin Warren was an American literary critic, author, and professor of English.-Childhood and Education:...
.
Smith moved in 1947 to Hollywood, where he worked in the film industry, first for Samuel Goldwyn
Samuel Goldwyn
Samuel Goldwyn was an American film producer, and founding contributor executive of several motion picture studios.-Biography:...
as a script editor. In 1950 he became an independent producer, working on films such as Elmer Gantry
Elmer Gantry
Elmer Gantry is a satirical novel written by Sinclair Lewis in 1926 and published by Harcourt in March 1927.-Background:Lewis did research for the novel by observing the work of various preachers in Kansas City in his so-called "Sunday School" meetings on Wednesdays. He first worked with William L...
and How the West was Won
How the West Was Won (film)
How the West Was Won is a 1962 American epic Western film. The picture was one of the last "old-fashioned" epic films made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to enjoy great success. It follows four generations of a family as they move ever westward, from western New York state to the Pacific Ocean...
. In 1963 he partnered as a producer with director John Ford
John Ford
John Ford was an American film director. He was famous for both his westerns such as Stagecoach, The Searchers, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and adaptations of such classic 20th-century American novels as The Grapes of Wrath...
, making films such as Cheyenne Autumn
Cheyenne Autumn
Cheyenne Autumn is a 1964 western starring Richard Widmark, Carroll Baker, James Stewart, and Edward G. Robinson. Regarded as an epic film it tells the story of a factual event, the Northern Cheyenne Exodus of 1878-9, although it is told in 'Hollywood style' using a great degree of artistic license...
.
In 1994 Smith published a memoir, A World Remembered: 1925-1950. He edited volumes including The Democratic Spirit: A Collection of American Writings From the Earliest Times to the Present Day (1941), Books That Changed Our Minds, and The Holiday Reader with Philip Van Doren Stern
Philip Van Doren Stern
Philip Van Doren Stern was an author, editor, and Civil War historian whose story "The Greatest Gift," published in 1943, inspired the classic Christmas film It's a Wonderful Life .-Early life:...
. His work also included studies published in the 1940s of the painters Moses Soyer
Moses Soyer
-Biography:Soyer was born in Borisoglebsk, Russia in 1899. His father was a Hebrew scholar, writer and teacher. His family emigrated to the USA in 1912. Soyer's brothers, Raphael and Isaac were also painters...
and David Burliuk
David Burliuk
David Davidovich Burliuk was a Russian avant-garde artist of Ukrainian origin , book illustrator, publicist, and author associated with Russian Futurism...
.
External links
- Bernard Smith, 92, Who Edited Literary Giants: obituary (New York Times Dec. 31, 1999)