The Resume

(December 10, 1884-September 24, 1933)
Born in Osceola Mills, Pennsylvania
Founded Boni & Liveright and Modern Library
Published the first books by Ernest Hemingway, William Faulkner, Hart Crane, and Dorothy Parker
Also published T.S. Eliot's 'The Waste Land,' Theodore Dreiser's 'An American Tragedy,' and thirteen Eugene O'Neill dramas
Produced the American stage version of 'Dracula' (1927)

Why he might be annoying:

He got started in publishing with his father-in-law's financial backing.
He had a hidden bedroom next to his office so he could indulge in trysts without alerting either his wife or his mistress.
His second marriage, to actress Elise Bartlett, lasted four months before she filed for divorce.
His first stage productions were unsuccessful, forcing him to sell Modern Library to Bennett Cerf to cover his debts (1925).
Further financial losses resulted in his losing control of Boni & Liveright (1928).
He eventually earned $2 million from 'Dracula,' but never got around to paying the $678.01 in royalties that he owed to Florence Balcombe Stoker.

Why he might not be annoying:

Ben Hecht wrote, 'There was in New York no more popular and exciting figure than Liveright. Beauty, success, and admiration attended him like a faithful retinue.'
Ezra Pound praised him as 'a pearl among publishers.'
He led the opposition that defeated a 'clean books bill' in the New York legislature that would have allowed books to be banned if any passage within was indecent, lewd, or obscene.

Credit: C. Fishel

Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

• C. Fishel's Profiles [Series 84]
• I am an Adulterer
• I Died in 1933 (Ranked: 48)
• I Married for Less than Two Years
• Look at Me, I'm Reading
• My Name, My Company
• Our Marriage Didn't Make It To Our First Anniversary
• Profiles 53001-53250 (Ranked: 53014)

Year In Review:

In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
In 2021, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying