George Davis (editor)
Encyclopedia
George Davis was an influential American
fiction editor and minor novelist.
, Davis spent much of his twenties as an expatriate in Paris
.
from the years 1936 to 1941. After being fired from Harper's, he served as an editor for Mademoiselle
for eight years. An overweight alcoholic and flamboyant homosexual, he is noted for attempting to bring serious literature to the generally light world of woman's magazines. He was an early sponsor of such diverse literary figures as Truman Capote
, Ray Bradbury
and Jane Bowles
.
, founded an art commune at 7 Middagh Street in Brooklyn Heights
in October 1940. Dubbed February House by Anaïs Nin
because so many of its residents had February birthdays, the house became a hub of cultural activities in New York
. Figures like Benjamin Britten
, W. H. Auden
and Carson McCullers
were live-in guests. A study of 7 Middagh Street, entitled February House, was published in 2005.
, where he had been helping his wife, singer Lotte Lenya
, make recordings.
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fiction editor and minor novelist.
Early life
After an early period in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Davis spent much of his twenties as an expatriate in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
The Opening of a Door
His only novel, The Opening of a Door, was published to critical praise in 1931.Editorialship
He served as fiction editor of the periodical Harper's BazaarHarper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
from the years 1936 to 1941. After being fired from Harper's, he served as an editor for Mademoiselle
Mademoiselle (magazine)
Mademoiselle was an influential women's magazine first published in 1935 by Street and Smith and later acquired by Condé Nast Publications....
for eight years. An overweight alcoholic and flamboyant homosexual, he is noted for attempting to bring serious literature to the generally light world of woman's magazines. He was an early sponsor of such diverse literary figures as Truman Capote
Truman Capote
Truman Streckfus Persons , known as Truman Capote , was an American author, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany's and the true crime novel In Cold Blood , which he labeled a "nonfiction novel." At...
, Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury is an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man , Bradbury is one of the most celebrated among 20th...
and Jane Bowles
Jane Bowles
Jane Bowles, born Jane Sydney Auer , was an American writer and playwright.-Early life:Born into a Jewish family in New York, Jane Bowles spent her childhood in Woodmere, New York, on Long Island. She developed tuberculous arthritis of the knee as a teenager and her mother took her to Switzerland...
.
February House
Davis and several friends, including Gypsy Rose LeeGypsy Rose Lee
Gypsy Rose Lee was an American burlesque entertainer famous for her striptease act. She was also an actress, author, and playwright whose 1957 memoir was made into the stage musical and film Gypsy.-Early life:...
, founded an art commune at 7 Middagh Street in Brooklyn Heights
Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn
Brooklyn Heights is a culturally diverse neighborhood within the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Originally referred to as 'Brooklyn Village', it has been a prominent area of Brooklyn since 1834. As of 2000, Brooklyn Heights sustained a population of 22,594 people. The neighborhood is part of...
in October 1940. Dubbed February House by Anaïs Nin
Anaïs Nin
Anaïs Nin was a French-Cuban author, based at first in France and later in the United States, who published her journals, which span more than 60 years, beginning when she was 11 years old and ending shortly before her death, her erotic literature, and short stories...
because so many of its residents had February birthdays, the house became a hub of cultural activities in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Figures like Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
, W. H. Auden
W. H. Auden
Wystan Hugh Auden , who published as W. H. Auden, was an Anglo-American poet,The first definition of "Anglo-American" in the OED is: "Of, belonging to, or involving both England and America." See also the definition "English in origin or birth, American by settlement or citizenship" in See also...
and Carson McCullers
Carson McCullers
Carson McCullers was an American writer. She wrote novels, short stories, and two plays, as well as essays and some poetry. Her first novel The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter explores the spiritual isolation of misfits and outcasts of the South...
were live-in guests. A study of 7 Middagh Street, entitled February House, was published in 2005.
Death
He died of a heart attack in BerlinBerlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where he had been helping his wife, singer Lotte Lenya
Lotte Lenya
Lotte Lenya was an Austrian singer, diseuse, and actress. In the German-speaking and classical music world she is best remembered for her performances of the songs of her husband, Kurt Weill. In English-language film she is remembered for her Academy Award-nominated role in The Roman Spring of Mrs...
, make recordings.
Davis in literature
A very unflattering literary duplicate of George Davis was written by Truman Capote in the form of the character "Boaty" in his unfinished work Answered PrayersAnswered Prayers: The Unfinished Novel
Answered Prayers is an unfinished novel by American author Truman Capote, published posthumously in 1986 in England and in 1987 in the United States.- History :...
.