Bernard Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1907-09-20)September 20, 1907 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 21, 1999(1999-12-21) (aged 92) |
| Alma mater | City University of New York |
| Occupation(s) | Literary editor, film producer |
| Relatives | Emil L. Smith(brother) |
Bernard Smith (September 20, 1907 – December 21, 1999) was an Americanliterary editor,film producer, andliterary critic. He is best remembered for his work at theKnopf publishing house, where he editedB. Traven,Raymond Chandler, andDashiell Hammett, andLangston Hughes.
Bernard Smith was born on September 20, 1907, inNew York City.[1] His father was a businessman and his mother was a housewife.[1][2] He attendedCity University of New York.[1][2]
In 1928, Smith began working forAlfred A. Knopf, where he was eventually made simultaneously editor-in-chief and managing editor.[1] He became Traven's first American editor, and took a free hand in revising Traven's initially rough English.
In 1939, Smith published hisForces in American Criticism, a historical and critical survey of American literature and literary criticism from aMarxist perspective. Smith, though never a Communist Party member, was a committed Marxist;[2] but the book was undogmatic and was well received in the mainstream literary academy, including favorable notice from critics such asAustin Warren. He collaborated withMalcolm Cowley while working for the New Republic in his early 20s.[3]
Smith moved in 1947 to Hollywood, where he worked in the film industry, first forSamuel Goldwyn as a script editor.[2] In 1950, he became an independent producer, producing such Hollywood films such asElmer Gantry andHow the West was Won.[2] In 1963 he partnered as a producer with directorJohn Ford, making films such asCheyenne Autumn.[1]
In 1994 Smith published a memoir,A World Remembered: 1925-1950, which has been used academically as an autobiography supporting historical texts.[2] He edited volumes includingThe Democratic Spirit: A Collection of American Writings From the Earliest Times to the Present Day (1941, second edition 1943),Books That Changed Our Minds, andThe Holiday Reader withPhilip Van Doren Stern.[2] His work also included studies published in the 1940s of the paintersMoses Soyer andDavid Burliuk.[1]
Smith's brother,Emil Smith was a biologist and UCLA professor emeritus credited with having his work with plasma.[1] Emil is survived by his two sons, Geoffrey Smith, a Harvard graduate and current doctor at UCLA"UCLA Health: Center for High Quality Health Care Services". Archived fromthe original on 2014-11-29. andJ. Donald Smith (Columbia, University of Chicago, Dartmouth, New England Gilbert and Sullivan Society)
Smith died on December 21, 1999, at the Beverly Hills Rehabilitation Center inBeverly Hills, California.[2]
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