From The Nation: A lengthy and fascinating interview with Ted Solotaroff on his days at Commentary and the literary culture of 1960s New York.

The first morning, I was shown into my office by Sherry Abel, the managing editor, a large, graceful, middle-aged woman with a droll air. “Norman wants you to read these,” she said, indicating a file folder on the desk with several manuscripts. ”They’re for the meeting this afternoon. After that you can look through those.” She nodded toward two stacks of manuscripts, their return envelopes attached to them like lepers’ bells. “They’re from what we call the slush pile. You’ll soon see why.”

And that was more or less that. No indoctrination, no getting-to-know-you, almost zero curiosity except for a sly glance. Welcome to the Big Time. As Sherry went out she asked me if I wanted the door open or closed.

“Closed, please.”

“You men,” she said, a throaty chuckle trailing behind her.

Commentary Norman Mailer Norman Podhoretz Ted Solotaroff The Nation