Dear Donald, Dear Bennett: The Wartime Correspondence of Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer

by Bennett Cerf, Donald Klopfer, Robert D. Loomis (Introduction)

Donald Klopfer and Bennett Cerf had been partners in Random House for seventeen years, but Donald decided that he had to become a part of an even greater endeavor—the defeat of Nazi Germany. Not long after Pearl Harbor, Donald, who was then forty years old, took a leave from Random House and joined the United States Army Air Forces. He served for two and a half years, finally becoming an intelligence major in a B-24 group in England.

Donald and Bennett wrote to each other regularly all during that period. Bennett sent Donald long newsy letters about the book business—authors, sales, publishing gossip—as well as about what was happening in New York. Donald reacted in his wise, serene way to Bennett’s letters, and conveyed news of what was going on in the war, though sometimes censorship took its toll.

This is nostalgia with substance, and because these letters were never intended to be read by anyone else, they reveal, in a convincing and wonderful way, just how special these two men were and how that specialness was reflected in the company they founded.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, World War II

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 5, 2002

About the author

Bennett Alfred Cerf (May 25, 1898 – August 27, 1971) was an American writer, owner of The Modern Library publishing house, and co-founder of the American publishing firm Random House.

Cerf was also known for his compilations of jokes and stories, and for his regular appearances on the panel game show What's My Line?

Reviews

[Linda Street-Ely · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, with some peeks into the publishing business as it was then. Both Cerf and Klopfer were interesting characters. I especially like the origins of Random House, and the desire both had at the start to have their own company where they would publish what they felt like publishing with no interest in turning into another Doubleday (big corporate business).

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donald Klopfer and Bennett Cerf were co-founders of the book publishing house known as Random House. Cerf would become really well-known after the years covered in this book when he was a regular panelist on the TV show "What's My Line?" in the 1950s and 1960s. This book, however, covers the World War 2 years, when Cerf's business partner Klopfer enlisted in the US Army Air Corps after the US entered World War 2. Klopfer was 40 years old at the time, so would not have had to go, but he felt strongly about entering the military. He spent most of his time after basic training in the UK working in the intelligence division.

The book consists of letters each wrote to the other from 1942 through 1945. Cerf's letters cover everything from keeping Klopfer informed about book sales of their business, to lamenting the shortage of paper on which to print the books during the war, to telling him about the usual family and social activities. He also sent Klopfer many books and manuscripts, although many of these were never received by him due to the challenge of getting mail delivered to personnel whose stations changed frequently. Klopfer told Cerf what little he was allowed to tell about what was going on with the war where he was (of course any specific material was censored by the military in outgoing letters). I am a fan of Bennett Cerf and am a member of the "What's my Line?" group on Facebook, so I found the book perhaps more interesting than someone else who was not familiar with either person would find it. This book was published in 2002 by the widows of the two men. Recommended reading for sure.

**#54 of 100 books pledged to read/review in 2015**

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

entertaining collection of letters and commentary between bennett cerf and donald klopfer, the young owners of random house. so well written , funny, and informative. plus all the wwii stuff from klopfer's pov in england mostly , and cerf's pov from nyc and paper rationing, new authors, movies, parties, homefront.

cerf was great writer. so was klopfer. random house seemed like a very likable and ethical company, way back when, as opposed to world dominating douche bags now. but i guess the squid-amazon gonna take care of their riches for them now.

[Karen Cowgill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book!! Must read this if you like history...of publishing and of a very nice pair of men. The book is a set of letters from Bennett Cerf and Donald Klopfer, they started Random House. Donald went into the U.S. Army and the letters between these two friends are wonderful.