The Temper of the West: A Memoir

Jovanovich (1920-2001) is probably best known for building one of book publishing's largest houses, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, and for editing such luminaries as Mary McCarthy and Charles A. Lindbergh. But the Colorado native lived a colorful life that went far beyond business acumen and editorial expertise. This autobiography illuminates some of Jovanovich's lesser-known experiences, covering, for example, his early years growing up with his Serbian relatives and later, as an adult, visiting Belgrade. Jovanovich spends much time exploring the parallels between Bosnia and the American experience in Vietnam, both militarily and politically. He also shares intriguing anecdotes about his experiences working with writers like T. S. Eliot, with whom he""was not able to get on with,"" and shares piquant thoughts on""who publishers are."" He asks,""Were these men giants? No. Mostly, they were clever and agreeable persons who understood their trade, which was a business involving manufacture and marketing as well as literature and instruction."" This is a stirring, important portrait of a person, an era and a profession.