Montague Glass
Montague Glass was an influential writer known for his humorous portrayals of American Jewish life and culture. Born in England and later immigrating to the United States, he pursued law before finding his true calling in writing. After attending the College of the City of New York and New York University, he became a successful author, particularly recognized for his series featuring two fictional Jewish businessmen, Potash and Perlmutter. His stories resonated with readers and were published in prominent magazines, including the Saturday Evening Post. Glass's work often utilized stereotypes, reflecting the cultural complexities of his time, though these elements sparked some controversy. Throughout his career, he published collections such as "Potash and Perlmutter: Their Copartnership Ventures and Adventures" and "Abe and Mawruss: Being Further Adventures of Potash and Perlmutter." However, as entertainment preferences shifted in the early 20th century towards film and radio, his popularity declined. Montague Glass passed away in 1934, leaving behind a legacy that continues to evoke discussion about cultural representation in literature.
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Montague Glass
Writer
- Born: July 23, 1877
- Birthplace: Manchester, Lancashire, England
- Died: February 3, 1934
- Place of death: Westport, Connecticut
Biography
Montague Glass was born in England but immigrated to the United States when he was young. Glass attended the College of the City of New York and New York University. He was a practicing lawyer in New York City, but he was best known for his humorous stories about American Jewish life, culture, and character. While these stories relied on stereotypes that the Jewish community was struggling to dispel, they were still very popular. Glass was successful enough at selling his stories that he was able to leave the law firm where he worked and write full time.
Glass was a prolific writer of short stories, and his stories appeared in such magazines as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and Argosy. However, most of his stories were published in the Saturday Evening Post magazine. In particular, Glass was known for his series of stories about two fictitious Jewish businessmen, Potash and Perlmutter, who were involved in the garment business. Some of these stories were put into two collections: Potash and Perlmutter: Their Copartnership Ventures and Adventures and Abe and Mawruss: Being Further Adventures of Potash and Perlmutter. In 1913 and 1915, two of Glass’s stories were adapted as plays.
Towards the end of his career, Glass’s works suffered in popularity; the public view had shifted and considered the characters and plots too predictable. Not only had the audience’s opinion changed, but the growing movie and radio industries were providing outlets for the American public’s entertainment beyond those made available by the traditional short story-based magazines and theater. Glass died in 1934.