About Alvah’s Books
Blacklisted Novelist and Screenwriter, Spanish Civil War Veteran, and Radical, Alvah Bessie
Alvah’s Books is simply a book review site that also includes essays, author interviews, news items about the publishing world, and on occasion or two, some observations from yours truly.
The name of this site is a tribute to that cantankerous novelist, radical, Spanish Civil War veteran, and “Hollywood Ten” screenwriter Alvah Bessie.
As a young man, Bessie had theatrical ambitions, but once he realized that he wouldn’t make it on Broadway, he wrote the following:
“I had spent four years getting exactly nowhere on the New York stage; unless you consider a six-month case of gonorrhea somewhere. I had somehow acquired 1,000 books (mainly by theft, I’m sure) during my four years in high school, four in college, and another four on the stage, and I decided that there was only one thing for me to do; I would sell the books for one dollar apiece and go to Paris–to write. And that is what I did.”
To Alvah and his 1,000 books.
Books written by Alvah Bessie
Rebeca Schiller is the editor of Alvah's Books. She reviews literary fiction and non-fiction.
Hi Rebecca,
Nice site. Very professional, totally solid. Sorry I haven’t stumbled in here earlier, I’ll keep it on my roll.
VC
1Hi Victor,
Hope you pop in often and leave lots of comments!
RS
2Well, you’ve certainly piqued my interest in Bessie, Rebeca. I just bought a copy of what he wrote while slogging through the combat zone. Can’t wait.
Barry
3That’s terrific! I hope you enjoy it!
4