Boris Kachka Books

Farrar, Straus and Giroux is a pivotal publishing house, home to twenty-five Nobel Prize winners and iconic authors like T. S. Eliot and Joan Didion. Its story is as tumultuous as the great novels it has published. Boris Kachka explores the lives of its founders, Roger Straus and Robert Giroux, whose contrasting personalities shaped the company. Straus, the flamboyant showman, was known for his charm and boldness, while Giroux, a reticent editor, nurtured literary talents that defined American culture. Giroux was close to T. S. Eliot and played a crucial role in the careers of many notable writers, while Straus transformed authors like Susan Sontag into stars and fought fiercely for his books and authors. His confrontations with literary agents and rival publishers were legendary, revealing his relentless drive to protect his company and its talents. Kachka also delves into the inner workings of elite publishing today, offering insights into editorial decisions, bidding wars, and the pursuit of public attention, highlighted by the dramatic interactions between Oprah Winfrey and Jonathan Franzen. This comprehensive narrative, based on extensive research and interviews, provides a captivating look at postwar cultural life and the intellectual heart of the American Century.