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Barthold Fles

 
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Barthold Fles

Born February 7, 1902(1902-02-07)
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Died December 19, 1989 (aged 87).
Laren, Netherlands
Pen name Jan van Straaten
Occupation literary agent, author, translator, editor and publisher
Nationality Dutch-American (Jewish atheist)
Writing period 1928-1982
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 Grünwald
Children none
Relative(s) Louis Fles, George Fles,
Michael John Fles, Bart Berman, Helen Berman, Thijs Berman, Giorgio van Straten

Barthold (Bart) Fles (February 7, 1902 - December 19, 1989) 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.

Contents

Life and career

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 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 did study business at a vocational school and found employment at De Lange publishers. In 1925 he left for the United States.

In New York Fles found temporary employment as a violinist, painting apartments, selling vacuum cleaners and working for publishers.[2] In 1933 he established a literary agency in Manhattan, New York. Initially many of his clients were German refugees and other foreign authors.[3][4] He organized evenings for these authors in New York, in order to get them acquainted with the American book market.[5] From the forties onwards, however, most of his clientèle was from the United States.[6]

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, gave out loans to overcome economic hardship, and arranged fellowships with literary funds. 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. "Bonjour, friend, and good-bye, literary agent," she wrote to him. In biographical notes on Fles, however, she stated that he had refused to take on her boyfriend Henry Miller.[7] Miller himself also had hard feelings, calling Fles dishonest and part of the publishing establishment.[8] Fles was influential during several decades in getting blacklisted authors published.[9]

In 1936 Barthold married Ruth Grünwald, a dancer at the Metropolitan Opera who had been just one year in the United States.[10] Ruth assisted Barthold at his literary agency.[11] Later she left him.[12] Although he had no children of his own, 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] Although really a side activity, his nonfictional 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]

In 1986, at the age of 84, Fles closed his agency. Subsequently he returned to his native Netherlands,[15] where he spent his last three years in Laren's Rosa Spier home for retired artists.[3][16] 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)[3] and Heinrich Mann (book in 1993),[17] along with commentaries and biographical notes. Barthold Fles, a diabetic for several decades, died on December 19, 1989 at the age of 87.

Clients

Bibliography

Books written

Books compiled

Books translated

Articles

Biography

  • 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. ISBN 3484107189.
  • 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. ISBN 9789051836493.

References

  1. ^ Bleiler EF: The Guide to Supernatural Fiction, page 189. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1983.
  2. ^ a b c Spoor A: Een literaire vroedvrouw; Briefwisseling van Heinrich Mann en zijn Amerikaanse uitgever (English: A literary midwife; Letter exchange of Heinrich Mann and his American Publisher). NRC Handelsblad 1994-05-06. Accessed 2008-07-15.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ Groth, M: "The Road to New York: The Emigration of Berlin Journalists, 1933-1945", page 248. K. G. Saur, 1988.
  6. ^ Cazden, R: "German Exile Literature in America, 1933-1950", page 147. American Library Association, 1970.
  7. ^ a b Nin A: Fire. Harvest ,1996. ISBN 978-0156003902.
  8. ^ Webb W: Henry & Friends: The California Years, 1946-1977‎ - Page 16
  9. ^ Rouverol J: Refugees from Hollywood: A Journal of the Blacklist Years‎, page 212.
  10. ^ Mann, Heinrich; Barthold Fles, Madeleine Rietra (1993) (in German). Briefwechsel mit Barthold Fles, 1942-1949. Berlin: Afbau. p. 11. ISBN 9783351022440. http://books.google.com/books?q=%221936+heiratet+er+Ruth%22. "1936 heiratet er Ruth Grünwald, eine Tänzerin an der Metropolitan Oper, die ein Jahr zuvor mit ihren Eltern aus Frankfurt nach New York ausgewandert war." 
  11. ^ "Barthold Fles" (limited view). Publishers Weekly: 40. 1957. http://books.google.com/books?id=RsoXAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Mrs.+Ruth+Fles%22. "BARTHOLD FLES, New York literary agent, left July 5 for Europe. He will visit authors and publishers in 13 European countries and 30 cities, returning on September 15. In his absence the agency will be run by Mrs. Ruth Fles and Mrs. Robin McKown.". 
  12. ^ Waters, Frank (1998). Of Time and Change, A Memoir. San Francisco: MacAdam/Cage. p. 217. ISBN 9781878448866. http://books.google.com/books?id=UzidA4ETRFEC&pg=PA217&lpg=PA217&dq=%22bart+fles%22. "Bart Fles, whose wife had just left him, shrugged. "You're no different from the rest of us, Frank. It happens to us all."" 
  13. ^ a b Lewis Buell E: A Fine Sequel to That Modern Classic, "Bambi". New York Times Dec 3, 1939: BR105.
  14. ^ a b Shannon, D (Linington, E): "More by Shannon". Doubleday, 1982.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Agent Barthold Fles to retire to artists' colony near Amsterdam." Publishers Weekly 228 (Nov 29, 1985): 14.
  16. ^ "Barthold Fles (Obituary)." Publishers Weekly 237 (Jan 12, 1990): 19.
  17. ^ a b Heinrich Mann: "Briefwechsel mit Barthold Fles". Aufbau, 1993.
  18. ^ a b Margaret Bearden papers: Folder listing.
  19. ^ New York Public Libraries: References To Notable Authors In Agents' Files.
  20. ^ Branscum R: Cheater and Flitter Dick. Viking Press, 1983.
  21. ^ Fred CJ: Maverick: Fifty Years of Investigative Reporting‎, page 183.
  22. ^ The Book of the Sea, page vi.
  23. ^ Butcher, Fanny (1957-05-19). "The Literary Spotlight". Chicago Daily Tribune: p. G9. "I hear that there is a new Finney fantasy in the hands of the author's agent, Barthold Fles. It is science fiction with religious overtones." 
  24. ^ Henry B. Maloney (1973): Goal making for English teaching, p. 14.
  25. ^ http://www.archive.org/stream/kpfkprogramfolio6191959kpfkrich/kpfkprogramfolio6191959kpfkrich_djvu.txt
  26. ^ "Margaret Larkin, Writer, 67, Dead; Poet and Ex-Union Activist Aided Lewis on 'La Vida'." New York Times May 11, 1967, page 47.
  27. ^ Raymond Loewy Archives: "Accession 2251", Hagley Museum and Library.
  28. ^ Miller H and Laughlin J: Selected Letters, page 2. W. W. Norton & Company, 1995.
  29. ^ Ullmann L and Rose PI: The Dispossessed: An Anatomy Of Exile, page 321. University of Massachusetts Press, 2004.
  30. ^ Jessica Mitford and Peter Sussman (2006): Decca: The Letters of Jessica Mitford
  31. ^ Sights and Sounds. p. 575. "Adaptation of "Salmon River Polly" from Westering Women by Helen Markley Miller. Copyright © 1961 by Helen Markley Miller. Reprinted by permission of Doubleday & Company, Inc. and the Barthold Fles Literary Agency." 
  32. ^ Munson G: The Writer's Workshop Companion, page v. Farrar, Straus and Young, 1951.
  33. ^ "Greenbie v. Noble (Levet J.)." United States Patents Quarterly 1957: 115-124?.
  34. ^ Klein, Alexander, ed (1958). The double dealers: adventures in grand deception. J. B. Lippincott & Co.. "THE ROCKET SMASHERS by Richard Sharpe. Copyright 1956 by Fawcett Publications, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Barthold Fles, New York City." 
  35. ^ Rockwell, Molly (1993). "Acknowledgements". Norman Rockwell's Christmas Book. Harry N. Abrams. ISBN 978-0810981218. "Fifteen songs and carols from A Treasury of Christmas Songs and Carols edited and annotated by Henry W. Simon. By permission of Barthold Fles, Literary Agent, New York." 
  36. ^ Stephen J. Herzog: Minority group politics, p. 281 and p. 322.
  37. ^ Grant, Louis (1972). Communitas: of college and community. p. vii. ISBN 978-0442227937. "JANET STEVENSON, 'Ignorant Armies,' Atlantic Monthly (October, 1969). Copyright (c) 1969 by Janet Stevenson. Reprinted by permission of Barthold Fles, literary agent." 
  38. ^ Waters F: Of Time and Change: A Memoir‎, page 216
  39. ^ Serke J: Böhmische Dörfer: Wanderungen durch eine verlassene literarische Landschaft, page 92. Zsolnay, 1987.
  40. ^ Typton G: "Review: Two Biographies." Music Educators Journal 35 (6) (May-Jun, 1949): 46-47.
  41. ^ Jackson MM: "East Germany (Book Review)." School Library Journal 21(1): 103, 9/1974
  42. ^ Birge EB: "Music here and now (bookreview)." Music Educators Journal 26 (4): 48, Feb 1940.
  43. ^ Gould J: America Through a Refugee's Eyes. New York Times Nov 7, 1943: BR5.
  44. ^ Oja CJ: Making Music Modern: New York in the 1920s. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000, page 445. ISBN 0195162579.
  45. ^ Stevenson R: "Carlos Chávez’s United States Press Coverage". Aztlán 14 (1) (Spring 1983): 21-33.

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