Wise Men Fish Here
WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD.
Henceforth, these book reports will be a time-saving device. You need not read entire books anymore. Read these condensed versions instead. You'll have that much more time for your own blog.
Today I skimmed "Wise Men Fish Here" by W.G. Rogers, published in 1965.
This book is as much a history of Gotham Book Mart, as it is a biography of Frances Steloff.
Steloff was born in 1887. She had a hard childhood, having been forced to quit school twice to slave away at younger-sibling caretaking and household and farm chores-- once by her stepmother in Saratoga Springs, NY and again by her foster parents in Dorchester, MA.
Steloff was afforded the opportunity on one occasion to visit New York City with her foster mother. She fell in love with the place. At fifteen, she moved out of her foster parents' home, but stayed in Dorchester. She did a series of odd jobs, and attended high school at night for a time. However, she never graduated. For, at nineteen, she took advantage of the opportunity to live in New York when her sister became engaged.
Steloff never looked back once she realized it was her calling to be a bookstore clerk. After working as a clerk for a few years, she decided to open her own store.
In 1920 in New York, Steloff opened Gotham Book and Art, whose name was later changed to Gotham Book Mart. It took 6 months to start making a profit. Someone tried to discourage her by saying the shop was in a bad location-- the theater district, because actors were not "readers". Also, years later, someone stole her sign, "Wise men fish here". Nevertheless, many famous performers graced the shop with their presence, buying up art books. Lots of famous authors also hung out there. The shop became her life and stayed so, until she was in her 80's. She died at 101. The store is still in existence today.
Henceforth, these book reports will be a time-saving device. You need not read entire books anymore. Read these condensed versions instead. You'll have that much more time for your own blog.
Today I skimmed "Wise Men Fish Here" by W.G. Rogers, published in 1965.
This book is as much a history of Gotham Book Mart, as it is a biography of Frances Steloff.
Steloff was born in 1887. She had a hard childhood, having been forced to quit school twice to slave away at younger-sibling caretaking and household and farm chores-- once by her stepmother in Saratoga Springs, NY and again by her foster parents in Dorchester, MA.
Steloff was afforded the opportunity on one occasion to visit New York City with her foster mother. She fell in love with the place. At fifteen, she moved out of her foster parents' home, but stayed in Dorchester. She did a series of odd jobs, and attended high school at night for a time. However, she never graduated. For, at nineteen, she took advantage of the opportunity to live in New York when her sister became engaged.
Steloff never looked back once she realized it was her calling to be a bookstore clerk. After working as a clerk for a few years, she decided to open her own store.
In 1920 in New York, Steloff opened Gotham Book and Art, whose name was later changed to Gotham Book Mart. It took 6 months to start making a profit. Someone tried to discourage her by saying the shop was in a bad location-- the theater district, because actors were not "readers". Also, years later, someone stole her sign, "Wise men fish here". Nevertheless, many famous performers graced the shop with their presence, buying up art books. Lots of famous authors also hung out there. The shop became her life and stayed so, until she was in her 80's. She died at 101. The store is still in existence today.
posted by Library Hopper | 12:43 AM
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