Arthur Sullivant Hoffman (September 28, 1876 – March 15, 1966) was an American magazine editor. Hoffman is best known for editing the acclaimed

pulp magazine Pulp magazines (also referred to as "the pulps") were inexpensive fiction magazines that were published from 1896 until around 1955. The term "pulp" derives from the Pulp (paper), wood pulp paper on which the magazines were printed, due to their ...

Adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

'' from 1912 to 1927, Bleiler, Richard. "A History of Adventure Magazine", in ''The Index to Adventure Magazine'', Borgo Press, 1990. (p. 1-38). as well as playing a role in the creation of the

American Legion The American Legion, commonly known as the Legion, is an Voluntary association, organization of United States, U.S. war veterans headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. It comprises U.S. state, state, Territories of the United States, U.S. terr ...

.Moley, Raymond. ''The American Legion Story'', Greenwood Press, 1975. (p.58)

Early life

Hoffman was born in

Columbus, Ohio Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...

, and graduated from

Ohio State University The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...

Phi Beta Kappa The Phi Beta Kappa Society () is the oldest academic honor society in the United States. It was founded in 1776 at the College of William & Mary in Virginia. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, ...

in 1897. He briefly taught English in a high school and did miscellaneous journalism in Ohio. Hoffman worked on several magazines: ''The Chatauquan'', ''

The Smart Set ''The Smart Set'' was an American monthly literary magazine, founded by Colonel William d'Alton Mann and published from March 1900 to June 1930. Its headquarters was in New York City. During its Jazz Age heyday under the editorship of H. L. Men ...

'', and '' Watson's Magazine'', before moving on to become managing editor of ''Transatlantic Tales'', and ''

The Delineator ''The Delineator'' was an American women's magazine of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, founded by the Butterick Publishing Company in 1869 under the name ''The Metropolitan Monthly.'' Its name was changed in 1875. The magazine was publi ...

'', where Hoffman worked with

Theodore Dreiser Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser (; August 27, 1871 – December 28, 1945) was an American novelist and journalist of the naturalism (literature), naturalist school. His novels often featured main characters who succeeded at their objectives despi ...

. Hoffman also wrote a number of short stories for ''

Everybody's Magazine ''Everybody's Magazine'' was an American magazine published from 1899 to 1929. The magazine was headquartered in New York City. History and profile The magazine was founded by Philadelphia merchant John Wanamaker in 1899, though he had little r ...

'' and ''

McClure's Magazine ''McClure's'' or ''McClure's Magazine'' (1893–1929) was an American illustrated monthly periodical popular at the turn of the 20th century. The magazine is credited with having started the tradition of muckraking journalism ( investigative, wat ...

'', including a humorous series about the adventures of an Irishman, Patsy Moran. In 1910, the Ridgway company decided to launch a pulp magazine, ''Adventure''. Hoffman was on ''Adventure's'' staff from its beginning, and succeeded Trumbull White as editor in 1912.Sampson, Robert. ''Yesterday's Faces: Dangerous Horizons''. Popular Press, 1991. (pp 27–30).

''Adventure'' editor

Hoffman began to develop a "stable" of writers for ''Adventure'' that would publish

adventure fiction Adventure fiction is a type of fiction that usually presents danger, or gives the reader a sense of excitement. Some adventure fiction also satisfies the literary definition of Romance (prose fiction)#Definition, romance fiction. History In t ...

that was well-plotted, had good characterization and was historically and geographically accurate. Hoffman's ''Adventure'' stable would eventually include some of the most distinguished popular fiction writers of the era, including

John Buchan John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir (; 26 August 1875 – 11 February 1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian, British Army officer, and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation. As a ...

Rafael Sabatini Rafael Sabatini (29 April 1875 – 13 February 1950) was an Italian people, Italian-born British writer of novels, writer of romance novel, romance and adventure novel, adventure novels. He is best known for his worldwide bestsellers: ''The Sea ...

Talbot Mundy Talbot Mundy (born William Lancaster Gribbon, 23 April 1879 – 5 August 1940) was an English writer of adventure fiction. Based for most of his life in the United States, he also wrote under the pseudonym of Walter Galt. Best known as th ...

Harold Lamb Harold Albert Lamb (September 1, 1892 – April 9, 1962) was an American writer, novelist, historian, and screenwriter. In both his fiction and nonfiction work, Lamb gravitated toward subjects related to Asia and the Middle East. Lamb was an advo ...

Edgar Wallace Richard Horatio Edgar Wallace (1 April 1875 – 10 February 1932) was a British writer of crime and adventure fiction. Born into poverty as an illegitimate London child, Wallace left school at the age of 12. He joined the army at age 21 and was ...

, Walt Coburn, W.C. Tuttle, Arthur O. Friel, Gordon Young and T.S. Stribling.Server, Lee . ''Danger is my business: an illustrated history of the Fabulous Pulp Magazines''. Chronicle Books, 1993. (pp. 52–56)

Richard Bleiler Richard James Bleiler (born 1959) is an American bibliographer of science fiction, fantasy, horror, crime, and adventure fiction. He was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Best Non-Fiction in 2002 and for the Munsey Award in 2019–2022. H ...

described Hoffman as a "tenacious, contentious and brilliant" editor. For the first two years of his term as ''Adventure'' editor, Hoffman was assisted by writer

Sinclair Lewis Harry Sinclair Lewis (February 7, 1885 – January 10, 1951) was an American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright. In 1930 Nobel Prize in Literature, 1930, he became the first author from the United States (and the first from the America ...

. Hoffman and Lewis worked on the famous "Camp-Fire" page in "Adventure", which featured readers' letters, biographies of the magazines' authors and discussions of various issues. Hoffman added several departments to ''Adventure'', including "Ask Adventure", where numerous experts in various fields answered readers' questions on subjects as diverse as bicycle repair and crocodile trapping. Other departments Hoffman created included "Lost Trails", (helping readers find lost relatives and friends), "Weapons, Past and Present" (the history of

weapons A weapon, arm, or armament is any implement or device that is used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime (e.g., murder), law ...

) and "Mountains and Mountaineering" (discussing which mountains were best for

climbing Climbing is the activity of using one's hands, feet, or other parts of the body to ascend a steep topographical object that can range from the world's tallest mountains (e.g. the eight thousanders) to small boulders. Climbing is done for locom ...

hunting Hunting is the Human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products (fur/hide (sk ...

, and

camping Camping is a form of outdoor recreation or outdoor education involving overnight stays with a basic temporary shelter such as a tent. Camping can also include a recreational vehicle, sheltered cabins, a permanent tent, a shelter such as a Bivy bag ...

). In addition to Lewis, Hoffman was assisted in editing by several other writers, included Elmer Davis, Larry Barretto, L. Patrick Greene, J.D. Newsom, William Corcoran and Anthony Rud. Hoffman also created a special "Off-the-trail" section for stories different from the normal type of ''Adventure'' fiction. These included the

science fiction Science fiction (often shortened to sci-fi or abbreviated SF) is a genre of speculative fiction that deals with imaginative and futuristic concepts. These concepts may include information technology and robotics, biological manipulations, space ...

story "The Green Splotches" by T.S. Stribling, a genre ''Adventure'' did not normally publish.

Sam Moskowitz Sam Moskowitz (June 30, 1920 – April 15, 1997) was an American writer, critic, and historian of science fiction. Biography As a child, Moskowitz greatly enjoyed reading science fiction pulp magazines. As a teenager, he organized a branch of ...

"T. S. Stribling, Subliminal Science-Fictionist". ''Fantasy Commentator'', Winter 1989/1990 (pp. 230–243, 277–296). Hoffman also obtained the services of some famous artists to illustrate ''Adventure'', including

Rockwell Kent Rockwell Kent (June 21, 1882 – March 13, 1971) was an American painter, printmaker, illustrator, writer, sailor, adventurer and voyager. Biography Rockwell Kent was born in Tarrytown, New York. Kent was of English American, English descent. ...

and Lejaren Hiller, Sr. Hoffman was co-founder of the Adventurers' Club of New York in 1912.

was secretary for several years. Numerous ''Adventure'' contributors were club members, including H. Bedford-Jones, H. D. Couzens, Captain Dingle, J. Allan Dunn,

Lejaren Hiller Lejaren Arthur Hiller Jr. (February 23, 1924, New York City – January 26, 1994, Buffalo, New York)Lejaren ...

, Arthur D. Howden-Smith,

Hapsburg Liebe Hapsburg Liebe, born Charles Haven Liebe, (1880-1957) was an American author and screenwriter.Jones, Robert Kenneth. ''The Lure of Adventure''. Mercer Island, Washington. Starmont House, 1989 (p.9-11)Ellis, Douglas. ''The Best of "Adventure". ...

, Gordon MacCreagh and

. In April 1962, the club's Board of Governors named Hoffman President Emeritus and Honorary Life Member. Concerned about the threat of war, Hoffman set up a committee in 1915 designed to secure pledges from former soldiers whose skills could be used in times of need. The committee was named "The American Legion". The pledges were sent to Washington, where they were used to create two regiments of aircraft mechanics. After the war, the American Legion adopted the name of Hoffman's organisation; Hoffman stated in 1934 that he was "delighted" to give up his claim to the name. Hoffman often used the pages of ''Adventure'' as a pulpit for his political views. After the United States entered World War One in 1917, Hoffman used ''Adventure'' to advocate support for the war effort. Hoffman's editorials also adopted a strong anti-German tone. In 1918, Hoffman added two specifically anti-German columns to ''Adventure'', "Fighting the Hun Web" and "How to Help Win the War". Hoffman also edited a companion pulp magazine to ''Adventure'', ''Romance'' (1919-1920). ''Romance'' was aimed at female readers and featured writers from ''Adventure'' such as Mundy and Stribling, as well as

Joseph Conrad Joseph Conrad (born Józef Teodor Konrad Korzeniowski, ; 3 December 1857 – 3 August 1924) was a Poles in the United Kingdom#19th century, Polish-British novelist and story writer. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the Eng ...

, Georgia Wood Pangborn and Beatrice Grimshaw. However, ''Romance'' was not successful and was cancelled after a year. Writer

Lee Server Lee Server (May 27, 1953 – December 28, 2021) was an American writer. He was a graduate of New York University Film School. Server wrote several books about Hollywood cinema and pulp fiction. Personal life Server was born on May 27, 1953 ...

describes ''Adventure'' under Hoffman's editorship as "inarguably one of the handful of great pulp publications" and magazine historian Mike Ashley states in its that under Hoffman: "''Adventure'', along with '' Blue Book'' and '' Argosy'', was one of the top three American pulp magazines to which all such authors aspired to contribute."

Later years

After leaving ''Adventure'', Hoffman worked as the editor of ''McClure's Magazine'' before retiring to New York. Hoffman wrote some of the first books on

creative writing Creative writing is any writing that goes beyond the boundaries of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on craft and technique, such as narrative structure, character ...

and how to sell such writing commercially, including ''Fundamentals of Fiction Writing'' (1922) and ''The Writing of Fiction'' (1934). Reviewing Hoffman's ''Fundamentals of Fiction Writing'', '' The Bookman'' magazine stated "we believe Mr. Hoffman has touched the deepest note thus far sounded. An excellent book to serve as a postgraduate course in short story writing". Hoffman died in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania."Hoffman, Arthur Sullivant" in ''Who Was Who In America: VI''. Maquis, 1968 (p. 195).

Bibliography

* ''Fundamentals of Fiction Writing'' (1922) * ''Fiction Writers On Fiction Writing'' (1923) * ''Adventure's Best Stories-1926'' (1926) (Editor) * ''The service offered in the teaching of fiction writing and in analysis, diagnosis, criticism and consultation for both new and established writers'' (1929) * ''The Writing of Fiction'' (1934) * "Introduction" to ''Some must wander'' by George Gatlin (1934) * "That Earlier American Legion," ''American Legion Monthly'', July 1934 * ''Fiction Writing Self-Taught: A New Approach'' (1943)

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hoffman, Arthur Sullivant American magazine editors American male short story writers American short story writers Writers from Columbus, Ohio 1876 births 1966 deaths Ohio State University alumni American male non-fiction writers