Bennett Cerf established Random House in 1925 after acquiring the Modern Library series from Boni & Liveright. His career spanned four decades as a publisher, editor, and television personality, leaving a substantial footprint on American literary culture through the high-profile authors he represented and his influential legal challenges to government censorship practices during the mid-twentieth century.
Early Career and Founding of Random House
Born in 1898 in Manhattan, Cerf attended Townsend Harris High School and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Following brief employment as a reporter for the New York Herald Tribune and a position in a Wall Street brokerage, he became a vice president at Boni & Liveright. In 1925, he partnered with Donald S. Klopfer to purchase the Modern Library. They expanded their operations in 1927, launching Random House with a logo designed by Rockwell Kent.
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Cerf managed a roster of significant authors, including William Faulkner, Eugene O'Neill, Truman Capote, and Ayn Rand. His firm achieved a major victory in the 1933 case United States v. One Book Called Ulysses, which successfully challenged federal censorship laws. This allowed Random House to become the first publisher to distribute James Joyce's unabridged novel in the United States. Cerf later donated the copy used in the legal proceedings to Columbia University.
Media Presence and Later Years
Beyond publishing, Cerf became a recognizable media figure. He served as a panelist on the long-running television game show What's My Line? for 16 years. He was also a writer of anecdote and joke compilations, including Try and Stop Me and Shake Well Before Using. His service included membership on the Peabody Awards board of jurors and his involvement with the Famous Writers School, the latter of which became the subject of a 1970 investigation by Jessica Mitford.
Fast facts
- Born: 1898, Manhattan
- Died: 1971, Mount Kisco
- Primary Employer: Random House
- Education: Townsend Harris High School, Columbia University
- Television Career: What's My Line?, 16 years
- Notable Legal Case: United States v. One Book Called Ulysses
- Awards: Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
Questions readers ask
Did Bennett Cerf publish Ayn Rand?
Yes, he published her works, including Atlas Shrugged, though he disagreed with her Objectivist philosophy.
What was the significance of the 1933 Ulysses case?
It was a landmark legal victory that overturned government censorship, allowing the publication of James Joyce's unabridged novel in the United States.
Achievements
- Affiliated with Random House
- Educated at Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and Townsend Harris High School
