Barthold Fles
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| Barthold Fles | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Born | February 7, 1902 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | December 19, 1989 (aged 87). Laren, Netherlands |
| Pen name | Jan van Straaten |
| Occupation | literary agent, author, translator, editor and publisher |
| Nationality | Jewish-Dutch-American |
| Writing period | 1928-1973 |
| Genres | non-fiction, juvenile |
| Subjects | music, literature |
| Notable work(s) | books: Slavonic rhapsody, Briefwechsel; translations: Music here and now, Bambi's children; article: Chávez lights new music with old fires |
| Spouse(s) | Ruth Grunwald |
| Children | none |
| Relative(s) | Louis Fles, George Fles, Bart Berman, Helen Berman, Thijs Berman, Giorgio van Straten |
Barthold Fles (b. February 7, 1902 in Amsterdam - d. December 19, 1989 in Laren) was a Dutch-American literary agent, author, translator, editor and publisher.[1] Among his many clients were Raymond Loewy, Heinrich Mann, Joseph Roth, Ignazio Silone, Bruno Walter and Arnold Zweig.
Fles emigrated to the United States in 1925. In 1933 he established a literary agency in Manhattan, New York. Initially many of his clients were German refugees and other foreign authors.[2][3] He organized evenings for these authors in New York, in order to get them acquanted with the American book market.[4] From the forties onwards, however, most of his clientele was from the United States.[5]
As an author, he 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. He also wrote introductions to compilations and many articles and translated several books from German to English.
Fles closed his agency in 1986. He subsequently returned to his native Netherlands,[6] where he spent his last three years in Laren's Rosa Spier home for retired artists.[2][7] His letter exchange with his client Heinrich Mann was published in book form in 1993,[2] excerpts from his letter exchange with Joseph Roth in a bookchapter in 1991.[8]
Contents |
[edit] Clients
- David Barbee [9]
- Cedric Belfrage [10]
- Don Berry [6]
- Robbie Branscum [11]
- Otto Eisenschiml [9]
- Guy Endore [6]
- Margaret Larkin [12]
- Raymond Loewy [13]
- Walter Lowenfels [14]
- Elizabeth Linington [15]
- Heinrich Mann [8]
- Walter Mehring [16]
- Gorham Munson [17]
- Anaïs Nin (but left soon)[18]
- Theodor Reik [6]
- Jean Rikhoff [6]
- Joseph Roth [2]
- Ignazio Silone [3]
- Bruno Walter [6]
- Arnold Zweig [19]
[edit] Bibliography
[edit] Books written
- 1948 - Slavonic rhapsody: The life of Antonín Dvořák[20]
- 1973 - East Germany[21]
- 1993 - Briefwechsel mit Barthold Fles, 1942-1949 (with Heinrich Mann; editor Madeleine Rietra)[3]
[edit] Books compiled
- 1948 - The best short stories from Collier's
- 1949 - Seven short novels from the Woman's Home Companion
- 1951 - The Saturday Evening Post western stories
[edit] Books translated
- 1939 - Ernst Krenek: Music here and now[22]
- 1939 - Felix Salten: Bambi’s children[23]
- 1943 - Hans Natonek: In search of myself[24]
[edit] Articles
- 1928, Sep 15 - Chávez lights new music with old fires. Musical America 48 (22): 5 & 21[25][26]
- 1932, May 18 - The Price of Being Sensible. The Nation 134 (3489): 576
- 1935, Mar 10 - In Holland Writers Favor the Exotic. New York Times: BR8 & ?
- 1935, Oct 27 - Van Gogh Letters and Other Dutch Books. New York Times: BR8 & ?
- 1935, Dec 24 - The Literary Scene In Holland. New York Times: 61
- 1936, Aug 23 - Holland Turns to the Historical Novel. New York Times: BR 8
- 1950, Jun 4 - A Literary Letter about Holland. New York Times: BR 11
[edit] References
- ^ Bleiler EF: The Guide to Supernatural Fiction, page 189. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1983
- ^ a b c d Rietra M: "Muss 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
- ^ 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", Trouw, September 30, 1993
- ^ Groth, M: "The Road to New York: The Emigration of Berlin Journalists, 1933-1945", page 248. K. G. Saur, 1988
- ^ Cazden, R: "German Exile Literature in America, 1933-1950", page 147. American Library Association, 1970
- ^ a b c d e f "Agent Barthold Fles to retire to artists' colony near Amsterdam." Publishers Weekly 228 (Nov 29, 1985): 14.
- ^ "Barthold Fles (Obituary)." Publishers Weekly 237 (Jan 12, 1990): 19
- ^ a b Heinrich Mann: "Briefwechsel mit Barthold Fles". Aufbau, 1993
- ^ a b "Margaret Bearden papers: Folder listing"
- ^ New York Public Libraries: "References To Notable Authors In Agents' Files"
- ^ Branscum R: "Cheater and Flitter Dick". Viking Press, 1983
- ^ "Margaret Larkin, Writer, 67, Dead; Poet and Ex-Union Activist Aided Lewis on 'La Vida'." New York Times May 11, 1967, page 47.
- ^ Raymond Loewy Archives: "Accession 2251", Hagley Museum and Library
- ^ Miller H and Laughlin J: "Selected Letters", page 2. W. W. Norton & Company, 1995.
- ^ Shannon, D (Linington, E): "More by Shannon". Doubleday, 1982
- ^ Ullmann L and Rose PI: "The Dispossessed: An Anatomy Of Exile", page 321. University of Massachusetts Press, 2004
- ^ Munson G: "The Writer's Workshop Companion", page v. Farrar, Straus and Young, 1951.
- ^ Nin A: Fire. Harvest ,1996. ISBN 978-0156003902
- ^ Serke J: "Böhmische Dörfer: Wanderungen durch eine verlassene literarische Landschaft", page 92. Zsolnay, 1987
- ^ Typton G: "Review: Two Biographies." Music Educators Journal 35 (6) (May-Jun, 1949): 46-47
- ^ Jackson MM: "East Germany (Book Review)." School Library Journal 21(1): 103, 9/1974
- ^ Birge EB: "Music here and now (bookreview)." Music Educators Journal 26 (4):48, Feb 1940.
- ^ Lewis Buell E: A Fine Sequel to That Modern Classic, "Bambi". New York Times Dec 3, 1939: BR105
- ^ Gould J: America Through a Refugee's Eyes. New York Times Nov 7, 1943: BR5
- ^ Oja CJ: Making Music Modern: New York in the 1920s. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, page 445. ISBN 0195162579
- ^ Stevenson R: "Carlos Chávez’s United States Press Coverage". Aztlán 14 (1) (Spring 1983): 21-33
[edit] Further reading
- Rietra M: Der New Yorker Literaturagent Barthold Fles als Vermittler zwischen der alten und neuen Welt (1933-1945)
- Rietra M: Heinrich Mann/Barthold Fles: Autor/Agent, pp 151-162 in Würzner H, Kröhnke K (eds.): Deutsche Literatur im Exil in den Niederlanden 1933-1940. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 1994. ISBN 9789051836493
Categories: 1902 births | 1989 deaths | Literary agents | American book editors | American book publishers (people) | American children's writers | American translators | American non-fiction writers | Dutch Americans | Dutch children's writers | Dutch non-fiction writers | Dutch Jews | Dutch translators | German-English translators | Jewish American writers | New York writers | People from Amsterdam | People from Manhattan
