Barthold Fles

history

| birthplace = Amsterdam, Netherlands | deathdate = . | deathplace = Laren, Netherlands | occupation = literary agent, author, translator, editor and publisher | nationality = Jewish-Dutch-American | period = 1928-1982 | genre = non-fiction, juvenile | subject = music, literature | movement = | notableworks = books: Slavonic rhapsody, Briefwechsel; translations: Music here and now, Bambi's children; article: Chávez lights new music with old fires | spouse = Ruth Grunwald | partner = | children = none | relatives = Louis Fles, George Fles,
Michael John Fles, Bart Berman, Helen Berman, Thijs Berman, Giorgio van Straten | influences = | influenced = | awards = | signature = | website = | portaldisp = }} Barthold Fles (February 7, 1902 - December 19, 1989) was a Dutch-American literary agent, author, translator, editor and publisher.Bleiler EF: The Guide to Supernatural Fiction, page 189. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 1983. Among his many clients were Raymond Loewy, Heinrich Mann, Joseph Roth, Ignazio Silone, Bruno Walter and Arnold Zweig.

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.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. In 1933 he established a literary agency in Manhattan, New York. Initially many of his clients were German refugees and other foreign authors.Rietra M: "MuĂź man dann immer postwendend Geld senden um ĂĽberhaubt mit Ihnen verkehren zu können? Joseph Roth und Barthold Fles in Briefen", in Onderdelinden S: "Interbellum un Exil", page 199. Rodopi Publishers, 1991.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. He organized evenings for these authors in New York, in order to get them acquainted with the American book market.Groth, M: "The Road to New York: The Emigration of Berlin Journalists, 1933-1945", page 248. K. G. Saur, 1988. From the forties onwards, however, most of his clientèle was from the United States.Cazden, R: "German Exile Literature in America, 1933-1950", page 147. American Library Association, 1970.

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, arranged fellowships. 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 his unorganized business conduct as a reason. "Bonjour, friend, and good-bye, literary agent," she wrote to him. In biographical notes on Fles, however, she claims that he had refused to take on her boyfriend Henry Miller.Nin A: Fire. Harvest ,1996. ISBN 978-0156003902. Miller himself also had hard feelings, calling Fles dishonest and part of the publishing establishment.Webb W: [http://books.google.com/books?id=3hVbAAAAMAAJ&q=%22barthold+fles%22&dq=%22barthold+fles%22&num=100&pgis=1 Henry & Friends: The California Years, 1946-1977‎ - Page 16] Fles was influential during several decades in getting blacklisted authors published.Rouverol J: [http://books.google.com/books?id=wHlZAAAAMAAJ&q=%22barthold+fles%22&dq=%22barthold+fles%22&num=100&pgis=1 Refugees from Hollywood: A Journal of the Blacklist Years‎], page 212.

As an author, 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. Although really a side activity, his nonfictional writings 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.Shannon, D (Linington, E): "More by Shannon". Doubleday, 1982.

In 1986, at the age of 84, Fles closed his agency. Subsequently he returned to his native Netherlands,"Agent Barthold Fles to retire to artists' colony near Amsterdam." Publishers Weekly 228 (Nov 29, 1985): 14. where he spent his last three years in Laren's Rosa Spier home for retired artists."Barthold Fles (Obituary)." Publishers Weekly 237 (Jan 12, 1990): 19. His letter exchange with his client Heinrich Mann was published in book form in 1993, excerpts from his letter exchange with Joseph Roth in a bookchapter in 1991.Heinrich Mann: "Briefwechsel mit Barthold Fles". Aufbau, 1993.

Clients

Bibliography

Books written
  • 1948 - »Slavonic rhapsody: The life of AntonĂ­n DvořákTypton G: "[http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0027-4321(194905%2F06)35%3A6%3C46%3ATB%3E2.0.CO%3B2-9 Review: Two Biographies]." Music Educators Journal 35 (6) (May-Jun, 1949): 46-47.
  • 1973 - »East GermanyJackson MM: "East Germany (Book Review)." School Library Journal 21(1): 103, 9/1974
  • 1993 - Briefwechsel mit Barthold Fles, 1942-1949 (with Heinrich Mann; editor Madeleine Rietra)

Books compiled

Books translated

Articles

References

Further reading

  • Rietra M: "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 fĂĽr Germanische Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaft. TĂĽbingen: Niemeyer, 1996, p. 164. ISBN 3484107189.
  • Rietra M: "Heinrich Mann/Barthold Fles: Autor/Agent" in WĂĽrzner H, Kröhnke K (eds.): Deutsche Literatur im Exil in den Niederlanden 1933-1940. Amsterdam: Rodopi, 1994, p 151-162. ISBN 9789051836493.

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