The Hungry Years and The Pulp Jungle

Los Angeles: Sherbourne Press, 1962 / 1967. Original 137 page mimeograph typed manuscript,‘The Hungry Years’ by Frank Gruber, with a small label reading ‘From the Library of Frank Gruber’ affixed to the inside of the front cover. Bradbound. Very good lightly used copy in printed wrappers. With a First Edition copy of ‘The Pulp Jungle’ by Frank Gruber, signed and inscribed by the author: “To Ross Teal, with the best wishes of Frank Gruber.” Fine in a near fine bright dust jacket with some tiny edge nicks. Both items tell the fascinating story of the development (truncated) of “pulp magazines”, especially Black Mask Magazine, by celebrated suspense, mystery, and western fiction writer, Frank Gruber, with ‘The Hungry Years’ being the early manuscript form of the book ‘The Pulp Jungle.’ Frank Gruber (1904 - 1969), was a prolific writer, best known for his Westerns and his detective stories, who sometimes wrote under the pen names Stephen Acre, Charles K. Boston and John K. Vedder. He once bragged that he could write a complete mystery novel in 16 days and then use the other 14 days of the month to knock out a historical serial for a magazine. Legend has it that, while in the Army, he learned how to control the dice to throw 35 consecutive sevens, but that he had since "lost this skill through lack of practice.” Both items are enormously informative and entertaining, with the main difference being one of style and tone. ‘The Hungry Years’ has a more candid and immediate feel, relating wild tales of staying one step ahead of the landlord, the bill collector, the law, the editor, and, quite literally, physical hunger (think 10 cent or less meals at the automat & ‘free’ tomato soup - catsup in hot water). ‘The Pulp Jungle’ shares many of the same stories, but has a more edited and polished presentation, while retaining much of the essential cutting edge energy of the times. Together, they give the reader a front row seat to some of the most interesting and vital times in modern American literary history. With anecdotes about some of the most popular writers and publishing icons of the Depression era and beyond, including one of Gruber’s idols Max Brand (’King of the Pulps’), L. Ron Hubbard of ‘Dianetics’ and founder of Scientology, Forrest Ackerman, Erle Stanley Gardner, Raoul Whitfield, Rex Stout, Jonathan Latimer, Zane Grey, Ernest Haycox, Clarence E. Mulford, etc. Together: (Inventory #: 18205E)