I only give five stars to books that I think are essential reading for everyone. This book is not that, but it is masterful, engaging, entertaining and so sad. The literary history that passed through Maxwell Perkins' hands is immense, and this book covers a lot of it, looking at the books, their authors and Perkins' life through the manuscripts he edited.

While it mostly focuses on the superstars of the 1920s and '30s -- Fitzgerald, Hemingway and Wolfe -- many others are covered as well.

A great book for editors, writers and readers. It inspired me to want to read more and write more.