The Making of Modern Publishing: Bennett Cerf, Random House, and the Rise of a Literary Empire

Bennett Cerf helped transform American publishing while becoming a cultural figure in his own right. Author Gayle Feldman explores the Random House cofounder’s remarkable life, from his relationships with some of the twentieth century’s most influential writers to the landmark Ulysses censorship case and his place at the intersection of publishing, television, Hollywood, Broadway, and American culture.

Key Topics

• Bennett Cerf and the founding of Random House
• The transformation of American publishing in the twentieth century
• Cerf’s relationships with Truman Capote, Gertrude Stein, Ayn Rand, Dr. Seuss, and other writers
• The Ulysses censorship case and freedom of expression
• Cerf’s friendships and connections across publishing and popular culture
• His television fame on What’s My Line?
• The cultural influence and legacy of Random House

Guest Bio

Gayle Feldman is an author and longtime publishing journalist whose work has appeared in Publishers Weekly, The Bookseller, The New York Times, and other publications. She is the author of Nothing Random: Bennett Cerf and the Publishing House He Built, the result of more than twenty-three years of research and more than 200 interviews.

Connect with Gayle: Website

Nothing Random: Hardcover | Ebook | Penguin Random House

Connect with Holley: Buy Me A Coffee | Website | LinkedIn

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