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Died Age: 62
source: wikipedia.org
Maxwell Perkins
Birthday:
20 Sep, 1884
Date of Death:
17 Jun, 1947
Cause of death:
Pneumonia
Nationality:
American
Famous As:
Book editor
Age at the time of death:
62
Introduction to Maxwell Perkins
Maxwell Perkins, an American book editor, was renowned for his ability to identify and nurture exceptional American writers in the 20th century. Some of his notable discoveries include Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, and Thomas Wolfe. Born in New York City in 1884, Perkins graduated from Harvard University in 1907. He began his career as a journalist for The New York Times before joining the publishing company Charles Scribner’s Sons in 1910.
Eye for Literary Talent
Maxwell Perkins possessed a great eye for literary talent and was able to actively seek out promising new authors. He fearlessly challenged the conservative standards of his firm, advocating for the publication of controversial and groundbreaking works.
Support of F. Scott Fitzgerald
One of Perkins’ notable achievements was his recognition of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s potential. Despite other publishers rejecting Fitzgerald’s debut novel, “This Side of Paradise,” Perkins saw its potential and collaborated with Fitzgerald to improve it. The novel was eventually published in 1920, marking the emergence of a new literary era. Perkins continued to support Fitzgerald throughout his career and even assisted him with his acclaimed novel “The Great Gatsby,” which is widely regarded as one of the greatest American novels ever written.
Collaboration with Ernest Hemingway
Fitzgerald introduced Perkins to Ernest Hemingway, another influential writer during that time. Perkins was responsible for publishing Hemingway’s initial major novel, “The Sun Also Rises,” in 1926.
Maxwell Perkins's Quote's
Guidance to Thomas Wolfe
Perkins also provided editorial guidance to Thomas Wolfe, who was an author known for his lengthy and expansive novels that required extensive editing. Over the course of two years, Perkins worked with Wolfe to condense his first novel, “Look Homeward, Angel,” from over 1,000 pages to approximately 500 pages. The book was eventually published in 1929.
Legacy and Later Discoveries
In addition to Hemingway and Wolfe, Perkins also discovered other notable writers like Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, who received the Pulitzer Prize for her novel “The Yearling” in 1939. Perkins passed away in 1947 at the age of 62.
Profile Snapshot
Name:
Maxwell Perkins
Popular Name:
Maxwell Perkins
Gender:
Male
Cause of Death:
Pneumonia
Spouse:
Louise Saunders
Place of Birth:
New York City, US
Place of Death:
Stamford, Connecticut, US
Occupation / Profession:
Book editor
Personality Type
Defender: Maxwell was great at identifying and bringing out the best in others. He was also an excellent editor who was able to turn any of his writer’s pieces into masterpieces.
Maxwell Perkins's Interesting Facts
Maxwell Perkins worked at Charles Scribner's Sons and edited famous authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway.
Perkins is often credited with shaping American literature during the Jazz Age.
Perkins had a close working relationship with F. Scott Fitzgerald by editing classics like "The Great Gatsby."
He discovered and championed many literary talents, including Thomas Wolfe.
Achievements & Awards
Convinced Scribner’s to publish Ernest Hemingway’s first novel “The Sun Also Rises.”
Worked closely with Thomas Wolfe to edit and restructure his massive 1,114-page manuscript into the novel “Look Homeward, Angel” (1929).
Posthumously honored with the dedication of Hemingway’s “The Old Man and the Sea” (1952) to his memory.
Helped launch Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ career, whose book “The Yearling” (1938) became a best-seller and won the Pulitzer Prize.
Revolutionized American literature by championing new, young talents and defying established tastes of the earlier generation.
Discovered and nurtured some of the most prominent American writers of the first half of the 20th century, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Thomas Wolfe.
External Links