Send us a textRona Jaffe was only 27 when she rose to stardom with her 1958 novel, The Best of Everything, a roman á clef about the adventures of four young, single women working in New York City’s publishing industry. Our guest is Josh Lambert, an associate professor of English and director of the Jewish Studies Program at Wellesley College. His latest book, The Literary Mafia: Jews, Publishing, and Postwar American Literature, was published in July 2022 by Yale University Press. Discussed in this episode:The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe with an Introduction by Rachel Syme (Penguin Random House) #MeTooThe Literary Mafia: Jews, Publishing, and Postwar American Literature by Josh Lambert Shitty Media Men“Rona Jaffe’s The Best of Everything Is Still One of Our Sharpest Portraits of Female Desire” by Michelle Moses (The New Yorker)The Best of Everything (1959 film)Elbowing the Seducer by T. GertlerDickie’s List by Ann BirsteinRona Jaffe on Playboys’ Penthouse (YouTube)Support the showFor episodes and show notes, visit: LostLadiesofLit.comSubscribe to our substack newsletter. Follow us on instagram @lostladiesoflit. Email us: Contact — Lost Ladies of Lit Podcast

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