Dedication
To
my
mother
and
father
Acknowledgments
In a real sense, this book is an acknowledgment to all who have had a part in shaping my life and being. Since their names appear only incidentally and accidentally—if at all—in the course of the text, I hope with all my heart that they will accept this collective note of gratitude for all their help.
In particular, however, I wish to mention Hardwick Moseley for his encouragement when the going was rough; Milton Gilbert who made the Seven Stairs possible in the first place; Henry Dry, one of the few men I know who understand the meaning of forbearance; Goldie and Kalmin Levin (Jennie’s mother and father) for their devotion and unfailing help; Robert Parrish for his blue penciling; and Hope, who after giving birth to our son, Joseph, tenderly cared for the unstrung father through the pangs of giving birth to The Seven Stairs.
S. B.
| Contents | ||
| 1. And Nobody Came | 1 | |
| 2. “Read Your Lease. Goodbye.” | 5 | |
| 3. How to Get Started in the Book Business | 15 | |
| 4. Building the Seven Stairs | 29 | |
| 5. The Day My Accountant Cried | 49 | |
| 6. The Man with the Golden Couch | 58 | |
| 7. Farewell to the Seven Stairs | 75 | |
| 8. On the Avenue | 87 | |
| 9. Bark Point | 110 | |
| 10. Hope and I | 130 | |
| 11. My Affair with the Monster | 141 | |
| 12. Life in the Theatre | 169 | |
| 13. Writing and Publishing | 179 | |
| 14. Books and Brent | 195 | |
THE
SEVEN
STAIRS