Monday, May 26, 2008

Samuel Roth's Library

Yesterday I completed the cataloging of the personal library of Samuel Roth (1893-1974), a controversial publisher (most descriptions of him use the term "smut peddler" and "copyright pirate"), writer and bookseller. This was quite a departure from the Mathers, who wouldn't have been caught dead with the sort of books Roth kept around (and, if they could have, probably would have had the man ridden out of town on a rail, if not worse).

The library, along with Roth's personal papers and other archival materials, was recently acquired by Columbia University, Roth's alma mater.