Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1948-02-08


weighty book has insured q warm
welcome for the nonf1ction which
they feel Is best-suited to encourage
independent thinking and to fill in
the 15-year gap in German knowl-
edge of America.
| AS an example of how contro-
versial issues are presented, Lau-
renee Dalcher, who is member Of
Gen. Clays staff as chief of the
publications branch of the Informa-
ton Control Division, mentioned
that although "Gentleman's Agree
ment" and "Kingsblood Royal,"
those two hotly contentious novels,
of racial prejudice, will not be is
sued under the program, the Presi-
dents Report on Civil Rights, which
discusses the same subject more
calmly, will soon be available to
German readers. If the tremendous
popularity of such solid fare as
Ralph Barton Perry's "Puritanism
and Democracy" and Joseph War
rem Beach's American Fiction" are
any indication, the Germans will
probably be just as pleased.
While the Civil Affairs Division,
through the Infantry Journal. buys
the translation rights Of certain
American books which are offered
to German publishers, who must
arrange for them to be translated
and printed, the native publishers
are also encouraged to publish Ger
man manuscripts on their own and
to exchange rights for rights with
American publishers. Despite the
fact that German literary activity is
still negligible, some half-dozen
books have already been imported on
this basis.
One German house, Mr.. Dalcher
explained smilingly, had to be dis
suaded from using some of its
meager paper supply on a disserta-
ton on Phoenician archaeology.
The selection Of books for publ
cation Is done both here and abroad.
Members of the Civil Affairs Divi-
sion, under the direction of Col. B. B.
Mcmahon. Gull the weekly book re-
views, and the Quarterly Book List
Of the Library Of Congress and con-
suit members Of learned and liter
airy societies for possible titles. Ger
man publishers choose from this
list and also make requests for GER
tain books from the Information
Control Division in Germany.
One such request, incidentally, oc-
casioned a sharp exchange between
James T. Farrell and the War
Department. A German publisher
whose bid for studs Jonigan," that
grim study of adolescence in Chi
cago. was turned down by led,
wrote directly to Farren's publishers
in New York. Mr.. Farrell, in fight
ing trim after a long battle with
Canadian authorities who had ban
ned his work, promptly dispatched
a spate of bistering notes to the
Army, his Congressman and several
others. The Army, turning a deaf
ear to his charge Of censorship"
stood firm in declining to expedite
publication, holding the position
that 1t did not fit into its objective
fof presenting q well balanced pic
ture OF American life and thought. "
Thomas Wolfe, on the other hand,
Is much favored because it Is felt
that he presents American social
Ills, but not dispairingly. His you
Can't Go Home Again" is considered
especially apt for its descriptions
of his reaction to Nazi Germany.
This is one of 400 books now being
prepared for publication in Ger
many. Of the 95 titles negotiated
for by the United States Interna-
tional Book Association, which pre-
viously administered the program,
"Mama's Bank Account" Kathryn
Forbes cheerful study Of Norwe-
gain-American life, is a conspicuous
success.
The books are all reviewed, tersely,
in the 40 newspapers now operating
in the American zone and, despite
their low price. used as exchange on
the black market. Mr.. Dalcher said
that German readers line up in IL
braries to borrow them. Every book
bore the marks Of many thumbs.
According to T. W.. Simpson of the
Civil Affairs Division, who is back
from an inspection tour, these read
ers will soon be porting over the
novn1e If Nyil1a Gather Susan elias