Ben Hecht: Fighting Words, Moving Pictures by Adina Hoffman (English) Paperback

Description: Ben Hecht by Adina Hoffman A vibrant portrait of one of the most accomplished and prolific American screenwriters, by an award-winning biographer and essayist FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description A vibrant portrait of one of the most accomplished and prolific American screenwriters, by an award-winning biographer and essayistHe was, according to Pauline Kael, "the greatest American screenwriter." Jean-Luc Godard called him "a genius" who "invented 80 percent of what is used in Hollywood movies today." Besides tossing off dozens of now-classic scripts—including Scarface,Twentieth Century, and Notorious—Ben Hecht was known in his day as ace reporter, celebrated playwright, taboo-busting novelist, and the most quick-witted of provocateurs. During World War II, he also emerged as an outspoken crusader for the imperiled Jews of Europe, and later he became a fierce propagandist for pre-1948 Palestines Jewish terrorist underground. Whatever the outrage he stirred, this self-declared "child of the century" came to embody much that defined America—especially Jewish America—in his time. Hechts fame has dimmed with the decades, but Adina Hoffmans vivid portrait brings this charismatic and contradictory figure back to life on the page. Hecht was a renaissance man of dazzling sorts, and Hoffman—critically acclaimed biographer, former film critic, and eloquent commentator on Middle Eastern culture and politics—is uniquely suited to capture him in all his modes. Author Biography Adina Hoffman is an award-winning essayist and biographer. The author of four previous books, including Till We Have Built Jerusalem: Architects of a New City and My Happiness Bears No Relation to Happiness: A Poets Life in the Palestinian Century, she lives in Jerusalem and New Haven. Review "Adina Hoffmans superb [book]... loads Hechts staggering contradictions into a compact but abounding two hundred twenty pages.... She writes with enormous flair."—David Denby, New Yorker"Engrossing . . . Hecht . . . is due a revival, and this short, striking biography could provide it. Like him, its playful, punchy and moves at a real clip."—Ed Potton, The Times"A screenwriter hoping to serve up a punchy opening scene could hardly do better than the first paragraph of Adina Hoffmans new biography of Ben Hecht . . . The opening credits have barely rolled (so to speak) and we already know that the book is a very unusual sort of Hollywood biography, one about a man who sought a role on the world stage that extended far beyond having written Scarface. The story that Hoffman proceeds to tell—her account of what she vividly describes as Hechts long, slaphappy career—is little known today, a fact that would have surprised plenty of people when he died in 1964 . . . Sorting through [his] contradictions is . . . the task she sets for herself . . . Its a big job for such a slender book, but Hoffman . . . has the grip--the historical, cultural and human frame of reference--required to see Hecht whole."—Jeremy McCarter, Wall Street Journal"Hugely readable."—Danny Leigh, Financial Times"Hechts life was extraordinary, his writing is (mostly) a tonic, his films are (in the main) dazzling, and Hoffman has brilliantly caught his restless, contradictory quality in crystalline prose. Her analysis of his Jewishness is nothing short of a revelation."—Simon Callow, Sunday Times"In her lively and readable biography, the latest in Yales excellent Jewish Lives series, Adina Hoffman charts Hechts progress from Americas most successful screenwriter to Jewish activist, a journey that might have surprised those who knew him in his rambunctious younger days." —Robert Low, Standpoint"The present volume is part of Yales excellent Jewish Lives series and focuses sharply on Hechts always complex relationship with his own Jewishness"—Simon Callow, The Sunday Times Ireland"Adina Hoffmans vivid portrait brings [Ben Hecht] back to life in absorbing style" —Rebecca Taylor, Jewish Renaissance (Best Spring Books)"Hoffmans superb Ben Hecht: Fighting Words, Moving Pictures, part of Yale University Presss "Jewish Lives" series of biographical portraits, accomplishes a great deal in a relatively compact form" —Michael Phillips, TheStarspost.com"[Hoffman] captures her subjects complex, often cantankerous personality and his enormous contribution to filmmaking as we know it."—Elka Weber, Segula Finalist for the 2020 Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography, sponsored by PEN America Literary Awards"Ben Hecht and the American movie business grew up together, trading punches. Adina Hoffman captures this often destructive force of nature in all his cynicism and fervor, and is especially incisive dealing with his long struggle to find a Jewish identity that could fit his cantankerous personality. This book makes you wish youd known the guy, if only to watch the sparks he threw off."—John Sayles"Thoroughly absorbing, compulsively readable, Adina Hoffmans book gives a critical but sympathetic account of the pugnacious, brilliant Ben Hecht. A highly gifted storyteller, Hoffman shows just how important Hecht was in his day, and why he matters now."—Noah Isenberg, author of Well Always Have Casablanca Review Quote "Adina Hoffmans superb [book]... loads Hechts staggering contradictions into a compact but abounding two hundred twenty pages.... She writes with enormous flair."--David Denby, New Yorker "A screenwriter hoping to serve up a punchy opening scene could hardly do better than the first paragraph of Adina Hoffmans new biography of Ben Hecht . . . The opening credits have barely rolled (so to speak) and we already know that the book is a very unusual sort of Hollywood biography, one about a man who sought a role on the world stage that extended far beyond having written Scarface. The story that Hoffman proceeds to tell--her account of what she vividly describes as Hechts long, slaphappy career--is little known today, a fact that would have surprised plenty of people when he died in 1964 . . . Sorting through [his] contradictions is . . . the task she sets for herself . . . Its a big job for such a slender book, but Hoffman . . . has the grip--the historical, cultural and human frame of reference--required to see Hecht whole."--Jeremy McCarter, Wall Street Journal "Engrossing . . . Hecht . . . is due a revival, and this short, striking biography could provide it. Like him, its playful, punchy and moves at a real clip."--Ed Potton, The Times "[A] precise and lively portrait . . . Each phase in Hechts adventures is electrifying . . . Hoffmans concentrated biography is smartly entertaining and revelatory."-- Booklist (starred review) "Lively, well-researched . . . A clear-eyed portrait of an impetuous and multi-talented man."-- Kirkus Reviews "In the latest entry in Yales excellent Jewish Lives series . . . Hoffman beautifully illuminates the life and work of the protean 20th-century American literary genius Ben Hecht. . . . Assiduously researched and delightfully entertaining."-- Library Journal "Adina Hoffmans richly informative new biography is part of the Yale University Presss acclaimed Jewish Lives series . . . . A fine introduction to a seminal figure in American Jewish culture and Hollywoods first century."--Glenn Frankel, Moment "Hechts life was extraordinary, his writing is (mostly) a tonic, his films are (in the main) dazzling, and Hoffman has brilliantly caught his restless, contradictory quality in crystalline prose. Her analysis of his Jewishness is nothing short of a revelation."--Simon Callow, The Sunday Times "Hoffmans superb Ben Hecht: Fighting Words, Moving Pictures , part of Yale University Presss Jewish Lives series of biographical portraits, accomplishes a great deal in a relatively compact form. Its terrific on . . . Hechts prodigious output. . . . Its also sharp on Hechts lesser-known political and religious impulses and activities, as he agitated and raised money throughout most of the 1940s on behalf of Jewish statehood."--Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune "Sensitive and incisive. . . . To boil down such a profuse, not to say verbose, career, into so compact a volume was a challenge, but [Hoffman] has achieved much more than elegant concision. Alert to the wiles and intricacies of someone who savored his own contradictions, she makes contact with a living personality, creating a portrait both sympathetic and clear-eyed."--Geoffrey OBrien, New York Review of Books "Splendid . . . Hoffman brings objectivity and an amused skepticism to her subject... [She] juggles Hechts contradictions as deftly as he juggled his many commitments. I closed the book thinking that his life would make one hell of a Hecht movie."--Carrie Rickey, The Forward "Beautifully written. . . . a concise but nuanced biography."-- Los Angeles Review of Books "Hoffmans profile of the staggeringly prolific Hecht is written with a dynamism and wit reflective of its subject."-- Choice "This significant volume not only excavates Hechts forgotten activism, but also recognizes Hecht as "defiantly, unapologetically--a Jewish-American writer."--S.B. Skelton, Choice Long listed for the 2020 Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography, sponsored by PEN America Literary Awards "Ben Hecht and the American movie business grew up together, trading punches. Adina Hoffman captures this often destructive force of nature in all his cynicism and fervor, and is especially incisive dealing with his long struggle to find a Jewish identity that could fit his cantankerous personality. This book makes you wish youd known the guy, if only to watch the sparks he threw off."--John Sayles "Thoroughly absorbing, compulsively readable, Adina Hoffmans book gives a critical but sympathetic account of the pugnacious, brilliant Ben Hecht. A highly gifted storyteller, Hoffman shows just how important Hecht was in his day, and why he matters now."--Noah Isenberg, author of Well Always Have Casablanca Details ISBN0300251815 Author Adina Hoffman Pages 264 Publisher Yale University Press Year 2020 ISBN-10 0300251815 ISBN-13 9780300251814 Format Paperback Imprint Yale University Press Subtitle Fighting Words, Moving Pictures Country of Publication United States DEWEY 812.52 Illustrations 36 b-w illus. Short Title Ben Hecht Language English Series Jewish Lives NZ Release Date 2020-04-14 US Release Date 2020-04-14 Publication Date 2020-04-14 UK Release Date 2020-04-14 Alternative 9780300180428 Audience General AU Release Date 2020-04-13 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:130332388;

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