’m reading a wonderful book—Max Perkins: Editor of Genius by A. Scott Berg. Perkins was the editor for F. Scott, Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, and Thomas Wolfe, among others. It’s a very intimate portrait of Perkins as he related to his writers and as he himself grew as a man.
It’s very revealing of who these men were in their day-to-day lives, their brilliances, struggles, rages, and elations and how Perkins, whom they respectfully and affectionately called Max, managed them. He was editor, mentor, psychiatrist, financial advisor, and a deep, deep friend. His belief in them kept them going. He inspired them to produce at their best.
It opened my mind to the realities they endured and I felt support by Max.
I’ve found it more than just worth the read.
