Title
James Laughlin, New Directions Press, and the Remaking of Ezra Pound (Studies in Print Culture and the History of the Book)
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Although James Laughlin (19141997) came from one of Pittsburgh s leading steelmaking families, his passions were literary rather than industrialhe wanted to be a poet. Laughlin was a freshman at Harvard when he traveled to Rapallo, Italy, in 1933 to meet Ezra Pound (18851972), and he returned the following year to enroll in the poet s Ezuversity. Pound dismissed Laughlin s poetic talents, advising the wealthy young man to make himself over into a publisher. Laughlin did just that, founding New Directions Press in 1936.For much of the 1930s prior to World War II, Laughlin and Pound were friends, business associates, collaborators, student and teacher, and even at times son and surrogate father. But Laughlin s investment in Poundand their friendshipwas severely tested by Pound s wartime propaganda broadcasts for Italian state radio, his capture and abortive trial for treason, and his thirteenyear stay as a mental patient in St. Elizabeth s Hospital. Following this scandal and disgrace, the reading public no longer wanted to buy Pound s books, and the critical establishment dismissed him as a Fascist crank.Laughlin and New Directions responded by marketing Pound in such a way as to convince consumers that the poet s importance needed to be judged solely on aesthetic grounds, and that his political beliefs were irrelevant to his accomplishments as a pioneering literary artist. With Pound s encouragement, and despite the poet s oftexpressed opposition to the mixture of commerce and art, Laughlin used such marketing tools as advertising, the cultivation of friendly critics, and the development of the trade paperback to enhance Pound s reputation.Drawing on a wide range of sourcesincluding interviews with Laughlin and other New Directions staffers and published materials from numerous literary archivesGregory Barnhisel tells the story of the personal and professional relationship between one of the twentieth century s most controversial writers and his loyal and innovative American publishera relationship that eventually helped remake literary history and continues to shape our understanding of modernism itself
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- Q: What is the main focus of 'James Laughlin, New Directions Press, and the Remaking of Ezra Pound'? A: This book explores the intricate relationship between James Laughlin, founder of New Directions Press, and the controversial poet Ezra Pound, detailing how Laughlin helped reshape Pound's literary legacy despite the poet's political controversies.
- Q: Who is the author of this book? A: The book is authored by Greg Barnhisel, who draws on various sources to narrate the story of Laughlin and Pound.
- Q: When was 'James Laughlin, New Directions Press, and the Remaking of Ezra Pound' published? A: The book was published on April 27, 2005.
- Q: What is the binding type of this book? A: The book is available in hardcover binding.
- Q: How many pages does the book have? A: The book contains 296 pages.
- Q: Is this book a first edition? A: Yes, this is the first edition of the book.
- Q: What are the key themes discussed in the book? A: Key themes include the dynamics of friendship and mentorship between Laughlin and Pound, the impact of political controversies on literary reputations, and the evolution of marketing strategies in publishing.
- Q: Is this book suitable for readers interested in modernism? A: Yes, it is particularly suitable for readers interested in modernism, literary history, and the complexities of author-publisher relationships.
- Q: What kind of research did the author conduct for this book? A: Greg Barnhisel conducted interviews with Laughlin and New Directions staff, alongside extensive research in literary archives to provide a comprehensive view of the subject.
- Q: Can this book be considered a biography of James Laughlin? A: While it contains biographical elements about James Laughlin, the book primarily focuses on his relationship with Ezra Pound and their mutual influence on literature.