Alfred a knopf biography of rory

Alfred Abraham Knopf Sr. September 12, — August 11, was an American publisher of the 20th century, and co-founder of Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Henry Harper and Henry Holt. Knopf paid special attention to the quality of printing, binding, and design in his books, and earned a reputation as a purist in both content and presentation. Knopf was born into a Jewish family in New York City.

His father, Samuel Knopf, was an advertising executive and financial consultant, and his mother was Ida Japhe, a school teacher. Ida committed suicide when Alfred was five years old and his sister Sophia was almost two. With Lillian, Samuel had another son, Edwin H. Knopf , who worked for Alfred briefly, then became a film director and producer.

Alfred attended Columbia University , [ 2 ] where he was a pre-law student and a member of the Peithologian Society a debating and literary club and the Boar's Head Society.

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His interest in publishing was allegedly fostered by a correspondence with British author John Galsworthy. Galsworthy was the subject of Knopf's senior thesis and after visiting Galsworthy in England , Knopf gave up his plans for a law career, and upon his return went into publishing. Knopf was introduced to his future wife and business partner, Blanche Knopf , at a party at the Lawrence Athletic Club in Blanche said of their relationship: "Alfred had realized I read books constantly and he had never met a girl who did I saw him and [all we did was] talk books, and nobody liked him--my family least of all.

But I did, because I had someone to talk books to and we talked of making books