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I, Libertine
In 1956, I Libertine made
the best seller lists not only before it was written or published, but
before anyone other than Shep and a few "Night People" even thought
about it's existence. |
| Title: |
I, Libertine |
| Author: |
Written with Theodore
Sturgeon, under the pen name Frederick Ewing |
| Publisher: |
New York, Ballantine Books |
| Copyright Date: |
1956 Library of
Congress #56-11536 |
| Released: |
September 13, 1956
$2.75 for cloth
cover and $0.35 for paperback.
Initial printing 130,000 copies |
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"Audio Book" |
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Articles |
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The Village Voice
"The Book That Wasn't"
by John Wilcock |
Wall Street Journal - 8-1-56
Exposing the hoax
courtesy Pete Delaney |
Life Magazine - August 8, 1956
courtesy Pete Delane |
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London Times - August 8, 1956
courtesy Pete Delaney |
Puerto Rico World Journal - August 8, 1956
courtesy Pete Delaney |
N.Y. Times August 8, 1956
courtesy Pete Delaney |
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Review from NY Times
September 16, 1956
courtesy: Gene Bergmann
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Check out this great article
"I, Libertine Making the List" by Joyce Brabner
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Ballantine Books Press Release - August 17,
1956
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Page 1 |
Page 2 |
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Ads |
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Ad from
Village Voice - "I, Libertine Party" |
Ad from August 23, 1956 |
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Other Interesting
Notes |
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Frederick R. Ewing
"Interview"
| On August 1, 1956, John
Wilcock wrote an article in The Village Voice
about the book I Libertine. In the article,
Wilcock said, "a disc jockey in Eastern Pennsylvania
gave Frederick R. Ewing the "Burbage Award" for
"outstanding historical research" and interviewed the
mythical author over the radio (Shepherd, who has the
tape, says "Ewing" spoke with a slightly irritated
British accent)." |
Joe Mosbrook writes: "Caught
up in the I Libertine enthusiasm, a friend, Dixon
Morrow, and I taped a mythical interview with the
"author" for use on the local station. We tried to
include all the literary review cliches we could think
of. Nobody else at the local station had a clue about
what we were doing. After it aired, we sent a tape of
the interview to Shepherd. I don’t know if he ever
played it on his show."
Considering the fact that the recording is almost 50
years old, and despite the fact that it now sounds
somewhat immature, I like to think it was one small part
of the I Libertine hoax.
Here is the interview:
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Cover Art by Kelly Freas
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Kelly
Freas, a well-known science fiction illustrator, book
cover artist, and Mad Magazine artist, did the cover art,
which includes the word "EXCELSIOR," referring to
Shepherd's use of it, and a shop sign with a shepherd's
staff and a bony sturgeon, referring to Shepherd and
Sturgeon.
Excelsior |
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Sturgeon and Staff
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Afterword
The last paragraph of the Afterword gives some insight to the use of the word
Excelsior which has been used by Shep and his fans over the years.
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The author urges historically minded sharpshooters to draw their
beads on this narrative, and wishes them good hunting. They will
find certain licenses in my Libertine - as a small example, the
unseasonably warm weather when everyone knows Elizabeth's
suit for jactitation took place in February 1769 - and more power to
them. When they are done, let them proceed to Aesop and delete
everything they find there about talking to animals.
In Short, this is a fable, written by and for the
dilettente of the fabulous. It was extraordinarily easy and pleasant
to write and it is hoped that it is correspondingly easy and
pleasant to read.
Acknowledgement must be made to those without
whom the book and the author surely never would have been known at
all. First there is Mr. T. H. White, whose Age of Scandal
served up Elizabeth Chudleigh, hot and crackling in her transparent
gown. Mr. Theodore Sturgeon assisted nobly with the research, Mr.
Jean Shepherd pushed and pushed at the author until he was,
in the world of books, born; and last mentioned but first of all,
the Night People whose battle-cry is Excelsior, and whose humor and
forbearance are really responsible for the work." |
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"Interview
with the co-author"
courtesy of Max
Schmid
Some info about the writing of "I,
Libertine" from an interview with the (uncredited) co-author.
From: "Lester H Nafzger"
I just did an interview with Betty Ballantine, and she had some very
interesting info on the creating and writing of I, LIBERTINE. Among
other things, Betty said:
1) Ian Ballantine knew all along that there was no actual book. He, a
longtime fan of Shepherd, initiated discussions re a book with Shep, and
arranged for Ted Sturgeon to actually write it.
2) Sturgeon, a notoriously slow and
laborious writer, was finally forced to write most of the book in one long
marathon session at the Ballantine's house. Tons of coffee. Lots of
pushing and prodding. According to Betty, Sturgeon finally fell asleep,
exhausted, the manuscript unfinished--one chapter to go.
3) As Ted Sturgeon slept, Betty
Ballantine, a fine writer and editor, wrote the last chapter
Shep, of course, had already created the outline of the story, as well as
the monstrous publicity, but the book was entirely written by
Sturgeon--and Betty Ballantine.
There's much more, but I'm saving it for an article I'm writing
about Shep and I, LIBERTINE. However, you certainly can share the above
info with others. I would appreciate a credit.
Best,
Lester (Nafzger)
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I,
Libertine Book Signing and Frederick R. Ewing photo
courtesy
Gene Bergmann |
Remember the scalloped edge photos? Note
the "Apr 57" date on the border. |
Gene's notes on the back of the photo. |
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