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The Best Revenge
A long-running argument over life, love, and the theater between playwright Ben Riller and his deceased father, Louie, acts as counterpoint to Ben's struggle in the midst of moral and financial ruin, personal redemption, and Broadway intrigues
225 pages, Hardcover
First published July 23, 1991
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About the author
Sol Stein
32 books109 followersSol Stein was a best-selling novelist and the publisher of works by James Baldwin and Che Guevara. He also worked with David Frost, Jack Higgins, Elia Kazan, Dylan Thomas, and W.H. Auden.
Stein and Baldwin met as students at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, where they worked on the literary magazine.
Stein served in the Army during World War II. In 1949 he received a master’s degree in English literature from Columbia University.
In the 1950s Stein worked at Voice of America, wrote plays, and moved into publishing. He established his own publishing company, Stein & Day, in 1962 with his then-wife. Stein used other publishers for his own novels so he would not be competing with the authors that Stein & Day published.
Stein & Day closed after 27 years, and Stein wrote the nonfiction A Feast for Lawyers as a result of the bankruptcy.
Stein went on to write books about writing, and he taught in colleges. He also helped create WritePro, software to teach fiction writing to its users.
Stein and Baldwin met as students at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, where they worked on the literary magazine.
Stein served in the Army during World War II. In 1949 he received a master’s degree in English literature from Columbia University.
In the 1950s Stein worked at Voice of America, wrote plays, and moved into publishing. He established his own publishing company, Stein & Day, in 1962 with his then-wife. Stein used other publishers for his own novels so he would not be competing with the authors that Stein & Day published.
Stein & Day closed after 27 years, and Stein wrote the nonfiction A Feast for Lawyers as a result of the bankruptcy.
Stein went on to write books about writing, and he taught in colleges. He also helped create WritePro, software to teach fiction writing to its users.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 26, 2021
Master of the Craft
At no point in this book did the author stop surprising me. Fantastic story with so many subtleties, realistic characters, beautiful and clear prose. What else can I ask for? 5 stars!
At no point in this book did the author stop surprising me. Fantastic story with so many subtleties, realistic characters, beautiful and clear prose. What else can I ask for? 5 stars!
June 20, 2015
For the writer this is an exemplarily crafted novel. I'm reading it while refreshing myself with craft with Stein's ON WRITING. I liked the way he told this story from the multiple perspectives in the first person. It helped me in forming my own novel. It is an entertaining novel, don't get me wrong, but the telling is genius.
July 9, 2010
a novel about broadway and the producers, lots of twists and turns.
April 22, 2013
Lots of stereotypes and a flat ending.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews