First published in 1954, in this quintessential autobiography Ben Hecht recounts his childhood, education, and career as journalist, playwright, and screenwriter, describes famous political and literary acquaintances, and examines U.S. efforts to aid Jews in Nazi Germany and, after the war, in Israel.A remarkable memoir.

Elegy in Manhattan by George Jessel and Ben Hecht There is a city that never truly sleeps, a city that swallows dreams whole and spits out legends, a city where every street corner holds a ghost and every midnight has a story worth telling. George Jessel knew this city the way a man knows the face of someone he has loved and lost. He walked its avenues when they sparkled with the gaslight glow of vaudeville's golden age, drank in its speakeasies, wept at its funerals, laughed at its absurd...

The Complete Works of Ben HechtThis Complete Collection includes the following titles:--------1 - Erik Dorn2 - Fantazius Mallare3 - Gargoyles4 - The Florentine Dagger: A Novel for Amateur Detectives5 - A Thousand and One Afternoons in Chicago

It was a day in the spring of 1921. Dismal shadows, really Hechtian shadows, filled the editorial "coop" in The Chicago Daily News building. Outside the rain was slanting down in the way that Hecht's own rain always slants. In walked Hecht. He had been divorced from our staff for some weeks, and had married an overdressed, blatant creature called Publicity. Well, and how did he like Publicity? The answer was written in his sullen eyes; it was written on his furrowed brow, and in the savage...

An exploration of the Kastner affair: a conspiracy, a violation of conscience, criminal betrayal.Picture those early days when the new nation of Israel was being formed in the region of Palestine European Jews had just endured history's ultimate holocaust. Allied governments such as Great Britain had refused to take action to block the trains from carrying thousands of them to certain death. In those final days before the end of the war, the epicenter of the Nazi extermination effor...

The novel follows the life of its titular character, Erik Dorn, a disillusioned journalist living in Chicago during the aftermath of World War I. Dorn is depicted as a cynical and introspective figure who grapples with existential questions and struggles to find meaning in a world that seems chaotic and indifferent. As he navigates the tumultuous social and political landscape of post-war America, Dorn becomes embroiled in various personal and professional dramas, including romantic entang...

The novel is set in the post-World War I era, a time of significant social and economic upheaval. Hecht's characters are often depicted as flawed and struggling with their desires, ambitions, and the often harsh realities of life. Through their stories, Hecht explores themes such as corruption, greed, betrayal, and the quest for meaning in a seemingly indifferent world."Gargoyles" is notable for its literary style, blending realism with elements of dark humor and satire. Hecht's prose is b...

In "Fantazius Mallare," the story revolves around the titular character, Fantazius Mallare, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and existential exploration. The novel is known for its surreal and experimental narrative style, as well as its exploration of themes such as obsession, desire, and the nature of reality.Fantazius Mallare is depicted as a tortured and enigmatic figure, grappling with his own inner demons and the external forces that shape his existence. The novel delves in...

"The Florentine Dagger" is a classic detective novel that revolves around a mysterious murder and a series of intriguing clues. The story begins with the discovery of a murder weapon, a dagger, which is intricately linked to the crime. The title refers to this distinctive weapon, which plays a central role in the unfolding mystery.The novel follows an amateur detective, who becomes involved in solving the case. As the investigation progresses, the detective encounters various suspects, eac...

Ben Hecht's '1001 Afternoons in Chicago' is a groundbreaking collection of short stories that captures the essence of 1920s urban life in Chicago. Written in a snapshot style, each story portrays a vivid and intimate glimpse into the lives of everyday people in the bustling city. Hecht's prose is both poetic and gritty, painting a mosaic of characters and situations with sharp observation and empathy. The book is a masterpiece of modernist literature, showcasing Hecht's talents as a pionee...

Fantazius Mallare: A Mysterious Oath is a feverish descent into the consciousness of an artist who rejects ordinary morality, social fellowship, and even sanity itself. Written in a lush, aphoristic, often grotesque prose, the book belongs to the decadent and early modernist tradition, recalling Huysmans, Lautréamont, and the darker Symbolists while anticipating the psychological extremities of twentieth-century anti-realism. Its illustrated edition, associated with Wallace Smith's disturb...

The Florentine Dagger: A Novel for Amateur Detectives by Ben Hecht is an entertaining and suspenseful mystery filled with clever clues, dramatic intrigue, and investigative twists. Designed for readers who enjoy solving mysteries alongside the characters, this classic detective novel combines crime, suspense, and intellectual challenge in a thrilling narrative.