An American Past: An Early Autobiography

I sometimes feel that reviewing an old book like this one, long out of print, is just a waste of time. But this is a fine book and a most interesting story of the first part of a life that deserves to be remembered. I heard about this book while doing research on a book I wrote myself about a friend who contracted polio while on active duty in the army during WWII (see LOVE, WAR & POLIO). I wish I'd read it then. Plagemann caught polio while with the Navy in the Mediterranean. He came back from this devastating illness, after some rehab in Warm Springs, GA, where he met the President, FDR, also a polio survivor. Since he'd already written a book (MY PLACE TO STAND) on his polio and recovery, he didn't dwell too much on that. His story of being a young man on his own in Chicago, Detroit and New York, where he worked in prominent bookstores of the time (Brentano's), is what makes this book fascinating. It's a look back at the world of books and publishing seventy-plus years ago. A world that Plagemann was to join after the war, when he became a quite successful writer. This book is so well-written that I can't believe all of his books are now out of print. The ephemeral nature of success, particularly in the world of writing. Plageman died in 1991, just a few months after this book was published. I for one am glad he got this last book written. It deserves to be read. I will try to find more of his books. - Tim Bazzett, author of LOVE, WAR & POLIO and the REED CITY BOY trilogy