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Alice Mayhew Taught Me How to Work With Words Alice Mayhew Taught Me How to Work With Words
(about 1 hour later)
In the early 1980s I worked for nearly four years as a junior editor at Simon & Schuster. During that time, Alice Mayhew was the company’s executive editor.In the early 1980s I worked for nearly four years as a junior editor at Simon & Schuster. During that time, Alice Mayhew was the company’s executive editor.
She taught me to read the newspaper every day, particularly the editorials and obituaries. “Learn the layout of the paper so that you can always find what you need to know,” she told me.She taught me to read the newspaper every day, particularly the editorials and obituaries. “Learn the layout of the paper so that you can always find what you need to know,” she told me.
When I read that she died at her Manhattan home on Tuesday, I happened to be walking past her apartment building that very afternoon. I had felt the impulse to look through the door and into the lobby, hoping for a glimpse of her.When I read that she died at her Manhattan home on Tuesday, I happened to be walking past her apartment building that very afternoon. I had felt the impulse to look through the door and into the lobby, hoping for a glimpse of her.
Whenever I ran into her, walking south along Fifth Avenue or on her way to the Lion’s Head Bar on Christopher Street, she would ask what I was doing. She was doing serious work — editing books about presidents and world wars, covert spy operations and biographies of Nobel Peace Prize recipients.Whenever I ran into her, walking south along Fifth Avenue or on her way to the Lion’s Head Bar on Christopher Street, she would ask what I was doing. She was doing serious work — editing books about presidents and world wars, covert spy operations and biographies of Nobel Peace Prize recipients.
My career took me to consumer magazines like Travel & Leisure and Town & Country, where I wrote about the best Caribbean beaches or luffa spa treatments. I have made my living as a writer and editor in New York since I arrived here in 1980, and yet, the one decision I continue to regret is having left working for her.My career took me to consumer magazines like Travel & Leisure and Town & Country, where I wrote about the best Caribbean beaches or luffa spa treatments. I have made my living as a writer and editor in New York since I arrived here in 1980, and yet, the one decision I continue to regret is having left working for her.
On the day I was leaving, she hosted a bountiful, officewide breakfast party for me. I was 27 years old and impatient; I wanted to be on the other side of my desk, the writer rather than the editor.On the day I was leaving, she hosted a bountiful, officewide breakfast party for me. I was 27 years old and impatient; I wanted to be on the other side of my desk, the writer rather than the editor.
One habit she taught me was the art of the personal note. The bottom drawer of her desk at Simon & Schuster was filled with postcards that she acquired from art museums and from her annual summer trips to France.One habit she taught me was the art of the personal note. The bottom drawer of her desk at Simon & Schuster was filled with postcards that she acquired from art museums and from her annual summer trips to France.
The moment she needed to thank an author for a revision or encourage a first-time novelist to keep going, she opened the drawer, pulled out a card and wrote with a pen she’d sometimes have tucked behind an ear. She paid no attention to whether the postcard image had any relation to its recipient. She could write while talking to me or another staff member.The moment she needed to thank an author for a revision or encourage a first-time novelist to keep going, she opened the drawer, pulled out a card and wrote with a pen she’d sometimes have tucked behind an ear. She paid no attention to whether the postcard image had any relation to its recipient. She could write while talking to me or another staff member.
She trusted her young employees. When she was editing Jane Howard’s biography of Margaret Mead, she handed me the keys to her weekend home in Sag Harbor, instructing me to go out there and spend a week helping Ms. Howard finish her research.She trusted her young employees. When she was editing Jane Howard’s biography of Margaret Mead, she handed me the keys to her weekend home in Sag Harbor, instructing me to go out there and spend a week helping Ms. Howard finish her research.
Every morning, I walked down the quiet Sag Harbor street to meet Ms. Howard in her office, a converted garage. I drove to the local library to confirm facts and collate the finished pages. I listened to Ms. Howard as she read completed passages to me in her yard. In the evening, she hosted cocktail gatherings where Wilfred Sheed and Richard Reeves and James Salter gathered to clink and sip until dinner.Every morning, I walked down the quiet Sag Harbor street to meet Ms. Howard in her office, a converted garage. I drove to the local library to confirm facts and collate the finished pages. I listened to Ms. Howard as she read completed passages to me in her yard. In the evening, she hosted cocktail gatherings where Wilfred Sheed and Richard Reeves and James Salter gathered to clink and sip until dinner.
When Ms. Howard died, I sent Alice a condolence note, acknowledging the loss of a mate. Alice thanked me with a postcard. When Ms. Howard died, I sent Alice a condolence note, acknowledging the loss of a close friend. Alice thanked me with a postcard.
To my bewilderment, Alice also entrusted me at age 24 to work regularly with Cyrus Vance, the former secretary of state, on his memoirs. She knew the days I would go to his office to go over the manuscript.To my bewilderment, Alice also entrusted me at age 24 to work regularly with Cyrus Vance, the former secretary of state, on his memoirs. She knew the days I would go to his office to go over the manuscript.
“You’re wearing your Vance pants,” she would say to me with humor, referencing the one blue suit I owned at the time. When he neglected to include me in the printed acknowledgments, I heard her phone him to demand he send me a signed edition with a personal thank-you, which he did. “You’re wearing your Vance pants,” she would say to me with humor, referring to the one blue suit I owned at the time. When he neglected to include me in the printed acknowledgments, I heard her phone him to demand he send me a signed edition with a personal thank-you, which he did.
One afternoon in 1983, walking along Park Avenue after we met one of her writers at the Four Seasons, I asked Alice if she had ever considered writing an autobiography.One afternoon in 1983, walking along Park Avenue after we met one of her writers at the Four Seasons, I asked Alice if she had ever considered writing an autobiography.
She grinned, looked at me in silence, then assumed a middle-distance gaze, assessing the idea. But she remained more interested in the work done by her writers than she was in any kind of self-adulation.She grinned, looked at me in silence, then assumed a middle-distance gaze, assessing the idea. But she remained more interested in the work done by her writers than she was in any kind of self-adulation.
Her reticence in talking about her own life was indicative, in many ways, of her genius as an editor. She knew that her writers’ voices needed to prevail, not her own.Her reticence in talking about her own life was indicative, in many ways, of her genius as an editor. She knew that her writers’ voices needed to prevail, not her own.
Alice Mayhew was a star — not only to her writers, but also to her employees. She was a teacher of editing and writing and publishing and decorum (in and out of the office). Like all great teachers, her lessons continue to resonate. Alice Mayhew was a star — not only to her writers, but also to her employees. She was a teacher of editing and writing and publishing and decorum (in and out of the office). Like all great teachers, she offered lessons that continue to resonate.
Alice would often say to me and other staffers, chopping the air with emphasis, that “the purpose of an introduction to a book should be to tell the reader how to read the book.”Alice would often say to me and other staffers, chopping the air with emphasis, that “the purpose of an introduction to a book should be to tell the reader how to read the book.”
My introduction to New York began with her lessons on how to live a life here.My introduction to New York began with her lessons on how to live a life here.
David Masello is an essayist and the executive editor of Milieu, a magazine about design.David Masello is an essayist and the executive editor of Milieu, a magazine about design.
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