Max Perkins: Editor of Genius

Her appointment was followed by several others.

movements, becomes too generalized, too little about a

Maxwell Perkins gave all his authors the feeling that he cared as much for their work as they did themselves.

that’s when an editor has to step in. But not a moment sooner.”

It was an example of two qualities that distinguish the professional editor: the vision to see beyond the faults of a good book, no matter how dismaying; and the tenacity to keep working, through all discouragements, toward the book’s potential.

“Always stop while you are going good. Then when you resume you have the impetus of feeling that what you last did was good. Don’t wait until you are baffled and stumped.”

Back at the office, Max managed to dictate the rest of his letters just before the tennis champion Helen Wills Moody strode in.

Paris, where he hobnobbed with many other American expatriates, Fitzgerald among them.

Ernest already had plans for the royalties from the book. He was going to establish a trust fund for his family with the earnings from the first 70,000 copies; everything beyond that was going toward the purchase of a boat.