Barthold Fles

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Barthold Fles
Born(1902-02-07)February 7, 1902
Amsterdam, Netherlands
DiedDecember 19, 1989(1989-12-19) (aged 87)
Laren, Netherlands
Pen nameJan van Straaten
Occupation
Genre
Subject
Notable worksbooks: Slavonic rhapsody, Briefwechsel; translations: Music here and now, Bambi's children; articles: Chávez lights new music with old fires, Literature in exile
SpouseRuth Grünwald (div.)
Relatives

Barthold "Bart" Fles (February 7, 1902 – December 19, 1989) was a Dutch-American literary agent, author, translator, editor and publisher.[1][2] Among his many clients were Elias Canetti, Raymond Loewy, Heinrich Mann, Joseph Roth, Felix Salten, Ignazio Silone, Bruno Walter and Arnold Zweig.

Early life and education

[edit | edit source]

Barthold Fles was born in Amsterdam into an assimilating Jewish family. His father, Louis Fles, was a successful businessman and an activist against religion. Barthold had a tense relationship with his father, who wanted him into his business, while the young Fles was mostly interested in reading. Barthold read in Dutch, German, English, and French, anytime and at a tremendous pace. He studied business at a vocational school and found employment at De Lange publishers.

In 1923 he left for the United States.[2] In New York Fles found temporary employment as a violinist, painting apartments, selling vacuum cleaners and working for publishers.[3]

Literary agency

[edit | edit source]

In 1933, he established a literary agency in Manhattan, New York. Initially many of his clients were German refugees and other foreign authors.[4][5] He organized evenings for these authors in New York, in order to get them acquainted with the American book market.[6] From the 1940s onwards most of his clientele was from the United States.[7]

Fles was a special figure in the lives of many of his clients. He kept closely in touch, encouraged his authors to concentrate on their art, and arranged fellowships with literary funds.[3][8] Still, some clients moved on to larger agencies, or were later represented by publishing houses, lawyers, or by themselves, often after long relationships. An exception was Anaïs Nin who left him soon after she joined his client circle, citing unorganized business conduct as a reason.[9] "Bonjour, friend, and good-bye, literary agent", she wrote to him.[9] In biographical notes on Fles, however, she stated that he had refused to take on her boyfriend Henry Miller.[9] Miller himself also had hard feelings, calling Fles dishonest and part of the publishing establishment.[10] Fles was influential during several decades in getting blacklisted authors published.[11][12]

Barthold Fles wrote two juvenile books: Slavonic rhapsody: the life of Antonín Dvořák (1948) under the pseudonym Jan van Straaten (Van Straaten being his mother's maiden name) and East Germany (1973). He also wrote introductions to compilations and many articles and translated several books from German to English. Among the translations was another children's book, Bambi's Children by Felix Salten.[13] His non-fictional writings and his translations received considerable praise, except for his book on Germany. This book was clearly outside his (music and literature) expertise and sealed his writing for publication, set aside an intro to More by Dell Shannon (1982), by his prolific client Elizabeth Linington.[14]

Personal and legacy

[edit | edit source]

In 1936 Barthold married Ruth Grünwald, a dancer at the Metropolitan Opera who had been just one year in the United States.[15] Ruth assisted Barthold at his literary agency.[16] Later she left him.[17]

In 1986, at the age of 84, Fles closed his agency. Subsequently, he returned to his native Netherlands,[18] where he spent his last three years in Laren's Rosa Spier home for retired artists.[4][19] At Rosa Spier he was approached by Madeleine Rietra, a Dutch expert on German literature, who posthumously published his letter exchange with clients Joseph Roth (bookchapter in 1991)[4] and Heinrich Mann (book in 1993),[20] along with commentaries and biographical notes.

Barthold Fles, a diabetic for several decades, died on December 19, 1989, aged 87.

Clients

[edit | edit source]

Publications

[edit | edit source]

Books

[edit | edit source]

Written

[edit | edit source]

Compiled

[edit | edit source]

Translated

[edit | edit source]

Published

[edit | edit source]

These German Exilliteratur poetry books were published by Barthold Fles Verlag, New York

  • 1941 - Max Herrmann-Neisse: Letzte Gedichte
  • 1941 - Berthold Viertel: Fürchte dich nicht! Neue Gedichte
  • 1942 - Hans Sahl: Der hellen Nächte, Gedichte Aus Frankreich
  • 1942 - Max Hermann-Neisse: Mir bleibt mein Lied, Auswahl aus unveröffentlichten Gedichten (posthumous publication)

Articles

[edit | edit source]

Written

[edit | edit source]

Translated

[edit | edit source]

Biography

[edit | edit source]
  • Madeleine Rietra: "Der New Yorker Literaturagent Barthold Fles als Vermittler zwischen der alten und neuen Welt (1933-1945)" in Batts MS (ed.): Alte Welten - neue Welten, Akten des IX. Kongresses der Internationale Vereinigung für Germanische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft. Tübingen: Niemeyer, 1996, p. 164. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
  • Madeleine Rietra: "Heinrich Mann/Barthold Fles: Autor/Agent" in Würzner H, Kröhnke K (eds.): Deutsche Literatur im Exil in den Niederlanden 1933-1940. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 1994, p 151-162. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
  • Els Andringa (2012): "Mediatie en transfer van Duitse Exilliteratuur in Nederlandse setting; Over de rol van mediatoren met bijzondere aandacht voor de opkomst van literaire agenten". Tijdschrift voor Nederlandse Taal- en Letterkunde, volume 128, p. 276.

References

[edit | edit source]
  1. ^ Bleiler EF: The Guide to Supernatural Fiction, page 189. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1983.
  2. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  4. ^ a b c d Rietra M: "Muß man dann immer postwendend Geld senden um überhaubt mit Ihnen verkehren zu können? Joseph Roth und Barthold Fles in Briefen", in Onderdelinden S: "Interbellum un Exil", page 199. Rodopi Publishers, 1991.
  5. ^ a b c Ester, H: "Correspondentie Heinrich Mann-Barthold Fles: Soms waait er een gure wind uit de brieven, dan kan er geen groet vanaf" Archived 2015-12-26 at the Wayback Machine, Trouw, September 30, 1993
  6. ^ Groth, M: "The Road to New York: The Emigration of Berlin Journalists, 1933-1945", page 248. K. G. Saur, 1988.
  7. ^ Cazden, R: "German Exile Literature in America, 1933-1950", page 147. American Library Association, 1970.
  8. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  9. ^ a b c d Nin A: Fire. Harvest ,1996. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
  10. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  11. ^ a b c d e Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  12. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  13. ^ a b Lewis Buell E: A Fine Sequel to That Modern Classic, "Bambi" Archived 2018-07-19 at the Wayback Machine. The New York Times December 3, 1939: BR105.
  14. ^ a b Shannon, D (Linington, E): "More by Shannon". Doubleday, 1982.
  15. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  16. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  17. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  18. ^ a b c d e "Agent Barthold Fles to retire to artists' colony near Amsterdam." Publishers Weekly 228 (Nov. 29, 1985): p. 14
  19. ^ "Barthold Fles (Obituary)". Publishers Weekly 237 (Jan 12, 1990): 19.
  20. ^ a b Heinrich Mann: "Briefwechsel mit Barthold Fles". Aufbau, 1993.
  21. ^ a b Margaret Bearden papers: Folder listing Archived 2007-08-26 at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ^ a b c d e Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  23. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  24. ^ Branscum R: Cheater and Flitter Dick. Viking Press, 1983.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).[permanent dead link]
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  27. ^ Fred CJ: Maverick: Fifty Years of Investigative Reporting, page 183.
  28. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  29. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  30. ^ The Book of the Sea Archived 2023-04-15 at the Wayback Machine, page vi.
  31. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  32. ^ Henry B. Maloney (1973): Goal making for English teaching, p. 14.
  33. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  34. ^ Full text of "KPFK program folio"
  35. ^ "Margaret Larkin, Writer, 67, Dead; Poet and Ex-Union Activist Aided Lewis on 'La Vida'." Archived 2018-07-03 at the Wayback Machine The New York Times May 11, 1967, page 47.
  36. ^ Raymond Loewy Archives: "Accession 2251" Archived September 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Hagley Museum and Library.
  37. ^ Miller H and Laughlin J: Selected Letters, page 2. W. W. Norton & Company, 1995.
  38. ^ Ullmann L and Rose PI: The Dispossessed: An Anatomy Of Exile, page 321. University of Massachusetts Press, 2004.
  39. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  40. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  41. ^ Munson G: The Writer's Workshop Companion, page v. Farrar, Straus and Young, 1951.
  42. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  43. ^ "Greenbie v. Noble (Levet J.)." United States Patents Quarterly 1957: 115-124?.
  44. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  45. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  46. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  47. ^ Stephen J. Herzog: Minority group politics, p. 281 and p. 322.
  48. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  49. ^ Waters F: Of Time and Change: A Memoir, page 216 Archived 2023-04-15 at the Wayback Machine
  50. ^ Serke J: Böhmische Dörfer: Wanderungen durch eine verlassene literarische Landschaft, page 92. Zsolnay, 1987.
  51. ^ Typton G: "Review: Two Biographies Archived 2022-02-25 at the Wayback Machine." Music Educators Journal 35 (6) (May-Jun, 1949): 46-47.
  52. ^ Jackson MM: "East Germany (Book Review)." School Library Journal 21(1): 103, 9/1974
  53. ^ Birge EB: "Music here and now (bookreview)." Archived 2017-02-19 at the Wayback Machine Music Educators Journal 26 (4): 48, Feb 1940.
  54. ^ Gould J: America Through a Refugee's Eyes Archived 2012-10-12 at the Wayback Machine. The New York Times Nov 7, 1943: BR5.
  55. ^ Oja CJ: Making Music Modern: New York in the 1920s. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, page 445. Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value)..
  56. ^ Stevenson R: "Carlos Chávez's United States Press Coverage"[permanent dead link]. Aztlán 14 (1) (Spring 1983): 21-33.
  57. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).[permanent dead link]
[edit | edit source]

Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 153: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

Retrieved from "http://70.231.62.181/index.php?title=Barthold_Fles&oldid=16714774"