LITERARY DOUGH-BOYS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 3, 3 July 1937, Page 27

LITERARY DOUGH-BOYS

The literary' men who are most jsuccessful, in ,the American phrase,' at "pulling down the'dough," are not usually very free with., the actual figures of their earnings;,,.but. the statement made:by a contemporary the other day that Mr. Somerset. Maugham is the highest-paid short-story writer in .the world is probably open to challenge, says the "Manchester Guardian." Mr. Maugham's ■ word ov story rate is not mentioned, but the figures must be astronomical if they exceed the same paid to Mr. P. G. Wodehouse. ;.- Stung to action by a critic's; ignorant statement that his humour: was not nearly so popular in the. United ..States as. at home, Mr. Woden buse.'. once (in. a letter to a" literary weekly), pointed;;out that he had Just, received. ; a .cheque from an American magazine for £1200 for the serial rights of a single short story- This sum for the partial rights in a story must surely be a record for a living writer of fiction. To make certain of exceeding Mr. Wodehouse's figure one has to go to the politicians, for whose alleged "secrets" the real money is always paid. In this semiliterary field the record is claimed for ex-President Coolidge, who once held contracts for,magazine articles 'at the rate of 25s a word as well as a stand-' ing offer from the Encyclopaedia Americana of 4s a word.