Many things to remember about Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill in the 1980s, where I worked as a simple runner and book shipper, but just a few observations for this post. Jill McCorkle was the coolest author I got to meet at the time, Clyde Edgerton was the nicest, and Kaye Gibbons seemed the strangest, accompanied into Algonquin's offices (across from Pyewacket Restaurant) by her mother. We published good books (ones by McCorkle and Edgerton, for instance, and later, ones by Larry Brown, Lewis Nordan, etc.) and what seemed like terrible books (Lylah! by Red Barber's wife Lylah was one of them), and we were always juggling multiple crises in a circus-like atmosphere.
Louis D. Rubin, Jr., was the main originator of Algonquin (along with Shannon Ravenel). I recall Rubin as irascible, a real pain in the ass grouch who often got into shouting matches with editors and authors -- I specifically remember terrible ones with Garrett Epps in particular. Rubin was not a people person and only treated those he already liked like human beings. On the other hand, he loved many of his authors, and cultivated several. He was good friends with Shelby Foote, the author, and Scholey Pitcher, Algonquin's figurehead publisher, a kindly gentleman who was always smoking a pipe and trying to figure out how to work the Xerox machine.
One of the things I discovered working at Algonquin was a trace of Jewish history from the Old South, something about Jewish enclaves in Charleston, South Carolina (where Rubin was from) and Richmond, Virginia. I loved talking with George F. (Fabian) Scheer and his son, George Scheer III -- who was also a jazz dj -- about such stuff.
Most of our books were stored next door in the warehouses of the Chapel Hill Newspaper, so I got to know just about everybody at the paper, including Orville Campbell, the publisher, an awful man who tyrannized his workers, literally driving some of them to tears. I learned a sobering lesson about the "real world" when I saw a fancy plaque mounted elsewhere in Chapel Hill honoring Campbell as a philanthropist.
Today's Rune: Joy.
6 comments:
I relate this post to my time at the Detroit Institute of Art. Like you I was not anything more than an observer in that culture. Tyree Guyton was probably the sanest of the artists I helped to install a gallery for.
My absolute favorite times though were the general staff meetings, held in the theater. We little mousies did so love to make the upper crust sweat out answers to issues affecting the much troubled institution.
To their credit though they often stopped dancing and answered them, but there were times they were reduced to sweat and tears fearing that blood may be next.
We were forced to wear green as our uniforms...hence the name for our collective; "The Green Meanies."
That sounds like that was a great early job with great experiences. I got a book signed by Brown once at an event in New Orleans. It may have been one of those published there.
To coexist better people, they become in them better! Erik, happy Christmas! Everything of good for you in the new year! Beijus
Does sound like a great job. Did you ever meet or hear of Karl Edward Wagner? He was around chapel hill at that time. A great fantasy writer.
Interesting perspectives of the publishing world, and at ground level. Things don't always appear as we would like, especially after reading some of our favorite authors.
Have a good holiday.
Happy holidays. The best for 2009 (good health, happiness, dosh)
Post a Comment