Liveright, Horace Brisbin, 1886-1933

The New York City publishing firm of Boni & Liveright began in 1917 with Charles Boni and Horace Liveright issuing the Modern Library Series. Boni's uncle, Thomas Seltzer, quickly became a third partner, but he left four months after Liveright had bought out Boni in July of 1918. Soon afterwards Liveright sold vice presidencies to Julian Messner and Leon Fleischman. Fleischman left the firm in 1920 to be replaced by Bennett Cerf that same year. In 1925 Cerf bought the rights to the Modern Library and left. Donald Friede then became a vice-president but was bought out by Liveright in 1928. In the middle of 1928 Liveright changed the name of the firm to Horace Liveright, Inc. In the late summer of 1930 he left for Hollywood and served only as the figurehead president of Horace Liveright, Inc. At that time Arthur Pell became a partner in the company and soon head of the business. In 1933 the firm was renamed Liveright, Inc. On 4 May 1933, an involuntary petition in bankruptcy was filed against the company. On 25 July 1933, the entire assets of Liveright, Inc., were sold to Victor Gold. Pell later took over the firm and called it Liveright Publishing Corporation. On 24 September 1933, Liveright died of pneumonia at his home in Manhattan.

In addition to his work in publishing, Horace B. Liveright was also a theatrical producer in New York.