Samuel Hoffenstein
Samuel Hoffenstein was a notable figure in American literature and journalism, having emigrated from Lithuania to the United States at the age of four in 1894. Settling in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, he pursued his education and graduated from Lafayette College in 1911. Hoffenstein began his career in journalism with the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader before moving to New York City, where he joined the New York Sun as a reporter and later as a drama critic. Over his nineteen years at the Sun, he also contributed to the New York Tribune and worked as a press agent for a theatrical producer.
In addition to his journalism, Hoffenstein was a published poet. His first book, *Life Sings a Song*, was released in 1916, but it did not garner much attention. However, his 1928 collection *Poems in Praise of Practically Nothing* achieved critical acclaim and commercial success. He followed this with *Year in, You're Out* in 1930, which included more serious poetry but received a mixed response. In 1931, Hoffenstein transitioned to screenwriting in Hollywood, where he adapted *Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde* and was nominated for an Academy Award, later receiving another nomination for the film *Laura*. Hoffenstein passed away in 1947, shortly after the posthumous publication of his final poetry collection, *Pencil in the Air*.
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Subject Terms
Samuel Hoffenstein
Playwright
- Born: October 9, 1890
- Birthplace: Lithuania
- Died: October 6, 1947
- Place of death: Los Angeles, California
Biography
Samuel Hoffenstein came to America from Lithuania with his family at the age of four, in 1894. His family settled in the town of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where Hoffenstein attended public schools. Hoffenstein studied at Lafayette College, graduating in 1911. After graduation, Hoffenstein briefly served on the staff of the Wilkes-Barre-based Times-Leader. He relocated to New York City in 1912 and became a reporter for the New York Sun. In 1913, Hoffenstein became a specials writer for the New York Sun, and the following year he served as the drama critic for the publication. For more than nineteen years, Hoffenstein wrote for the New York Sun in various capacities. During the time he was with the New York Sun, Hoffenstein also wrote articles for the New York Tribune and worked as a press agent for producer Al Woods.
Outside of his contributions to New York newspapers, Hoffenstein also published verse in magazines and journals. He published a book of his verse in 1916, titled Life Sings a Song, which gained little attention. His next book in 1928 was a collection of humorous verse titled Poems in Praise of Practically Nothing. Poems in Praise of Practically Nothing was critically acclaimed and sold extremely well. Two years later, Hoffenstein released another volume of humorous verse, Year in, You’re Out, which was markedly shorter than Poems in Praise of Practically Nothing. This volume met with less acclaim, due in part to the addition of more serious poems featured amongst the lighthearted verses.
In 1931, Hoffenstein left New York, where he had lived for nineteen years, to pursue a career as a screenwriter in Hollywood, California. He notably adapted the 1932 movie Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde for the screen, earning a nomination for an Academy Award. He received a second nomination in 1944 for the script of Laura. Hoffenstein’s third and final book of verse, Pencil in the Air, was published three days after his death in 1947.