Joseph Shaw | |
---|---|
Born | Joseph Thompson Shaw May 8, 1874 |
Died | August 2, 1952 | (aged 78)
Nationality | American |
Education | Bowdoin College |
Occupations |
|
Known for | Editor of Black Mask magazine, 1926–36 |
Joseph T. "Cap" Shaw (1874–1952) was the editor of Black Mask magazine from 1926 to 1936.
Before becoming Black Mask editor, Shaw had worked as a newspaper reporter and as a soldier in World War I, attaining the rank of captain (Shaw's friends gave him the nickname "Cap"). [1] Shaw was also a professional fencer, and even won an Olympic medal for fencing. [1] [2] Under his editorship, Black Mask published many works of crime fiction now recognised as classics of the genre, by authors such as Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Erle Stanley Gardner. [2] [3] [4]
Chandler greatly admired Shaw's ability to encourage Black Mask writers, claiming in a letter, "We wrote better for him than we could have written for anybody else." [1]
Despite Black Mask's critical and commercial popularity, Shaw was eventually fired from the magazine, succeeded by Fanny Ellsworth. Shaw then worked as a literary agent, though without notable success. [5]
Shaw was a writer himself, producing short stories, novels, and articles.
Joseph Shaw | |
---|---|
Born | Joseph Thompson Shaw May 8, 1874 |
Died | August 2, 1952 | (aged 78)
Nationality | American |
Education | Bowdoin College |
Occupations |
|
Known for | Editor of Black Mask magazine, 1926–36 |
Joseph T. "Cap" Shaw (1874–1952) was the editor of Black Mask magazine from 1926 to 1936.
Before becoming Black Mask editor, Shaw had worked as a newspaper reporter and as a soldier in World War I, attaining the rank of captain (Shaw's friends gave him the nickname "Cap"). [1] Shaw was also a professional fencer, and even won an Olympic medal for fencing. [1] [2] Under his editorship, Black Mask published many works of crime fiction now recognised as classics of the genre, by authors such as Dashiell Hammett, Raymond Chandler, and Erle Stanley Gardner. [2] [3] [4]
Chandler greatly admired Shaw's ability to encourage Black Mask writers, claiming in a letter, "We wrote better for him than we could have written for anybody else." [1]
Despite Black Mask's critical and commercial popularity, Shaw was eventually fired from the magazine, succeeded by Fanny Ellsworth. Shaw then worked as a literary agent, though without notable success. [5]
Shaw was a writer himself, producing short stories, novels, and articles.