Thursday, 31 July 2014

The Harry Golden Years

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The Harry Golden Years





In 1958, when Harry Golden published his book Only in America he was at the top of one of the most unusual success stories that America had ever seen. And, it happened each month!

Harry's monthly newspaper The Carolina Israelite consisted of 16 pages, and each complete with adverts and articles. And, every single word was his own. In fact, the whole thing was a solo achievement. He was his paper. What he wrote came all from himself and his past, and, month in and month out he would put it together by writing about just about everything!

And his past had a thread. When he was young in New York there was nothing he wouldn't do. He was a porter, salesman, editor, journalist, and, many other things, as well. Perfect for getting to know and understand people. And, it was there, with the energy of youth, that he spent most of his spare time with a book in his hands. He loved reading. And, what better for writing than reading? And, so it was, that after moving to Carolina he founded The Carolina Israelite. A paper, which despite its name, spoke to every man, woman and child in America.

And, his paper was a success. Harry Golden understood people. Many folk, whilst reading his articles (which, by-the-way, he called “editorials”) said that they were like reading letters from a friend. And, when the time came round for the paper - time came round for the family. Reading the The Carolina Israelite together was the highlight of the month for many American families. There was something in it for everyone.

But, of course, sooner or later, everyone has to give in to the years that they’ve saved, and, in 1968, Harry wrote the last of his editorials and put The Carolina Israelite to bed for the very last time. And there has never been anything like it since. How could there be? As Ralph Emerson wrote, “Whoso would be a man - must be a nonconformist”. And a nonconformist was Harry in one!

Vocabulary
advert - Werbung
consisted (to consist/consisted/consisted) – besteht aus
despite – trotz
founded – (to found/founded/founded)- gründen
Highlight – Höhepunkt
month in and month out – Monat für Monat
nonconformist - Nonkonformist
success - Erfolg
to bed – (to put a paper to bed) – bereit stellen für drücken

whoso – wer immer 

Maggy Steiner

  Maggy Steiner had a wonderful childhood.  She went to school in Vienna, and spent her summers with her uncle and aunt and her two cousins ...