Today, on the centenary of Samuel Beckett's birth, his original U.S. publisher and agent, Barney Rosset, reminisces with the New York Times.
The owner of Grove Press until the mid-1980s remembers first meeting
Beckett--for drinks in Paris. "He said he had only a few minutes, but
we didn't get out of there until four in the morning." Rosset paid him
a $150 advance against a 2.5% royalty for Waiting for Godot.
Rosset preferred Beckett's writing in English and his English translations of the works he wrote originally in French. "French is a cold language," he told the Times. "It damped him down; it controlled his emotions, and he knew it. . . . His English is warm and rich. You know, his mother spoke fluent Gaelic."
By the way, Grove is releasing its four-volume Centenary Edition of Beckett's works today. The boxed set retails for $100.
Rosset preferred Beckett's writing in English and his English translations of the works he wrote originally in French. "French is a cold language," he told the Times. "It damped him down; it controlled his emotions, and he knew it. . . . His English is warm and rich. You know, his mother spoke fluent Gaelic."
By the way, Grove is releasing its four-volume Centenary Edition of Beckett's works today. The boxed set retails for $100.