Comments on: Emanuel Litvinoff, Writer

By: Lawrence Cohen

Lawrence Cohen — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 15:49:26 +0000

A great novelist and biographer who inspired me to write.

By: Nancy Mayo

Nancy Mayo — Sat, 11 Dec 2021 01:25:52 +0000

We are interested to arrange for a plaque in Hollycroft Avenue to commemorate the life and work of Mr. Litvinoff. We should appreciate some background d on the dates when he lived in Hollycrolft Avenue and the books he worked on while living there.

It would be appreciated if any of the family would kindly make contact at the email address above.

By: Gail Davis

Gail Davis — Sun, 26 Jun 2016 15:53:14 +0000

I am Emanuel’s niece. I’m very proud to part of his amazing family!

By: Wendy Don Blumfield

Wendy Don Blumfield — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 11:01:35 +0000

I was moved to tears by this beautiful article. In one of the photos, Emanuel is the image of his late brother Barnet Litvinoff who was my mentor and inspiration when I worked for him in his publications office in the early 1960`s. Barnet used to tell me that all his schoolmates and his siblings went to the library to do their homework after school because it was warm and light there. And indeed, Emanuel and other siblings as well as Barnet all went into the creative professions. I kept in touch with Barnet and his wife Sylvia for many years, they used to visit us in Israel too. Everything I know about writing I learned from Barnet. What an amazing family!

By: Gary Gillman

Gary Gillman — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 18:28:37 +0000

I am coming late to this, e.g., I know E. Litvinoff has passed on now, but I was amazed to read this interview from only 4 years ago, I had no idea of the longevity he had. He is famous for having stood up to Eliot in the poem mentioned in the article. In fact, I believe he read it aloud at a gathering at which Eliot was present, circa-1951. I must look for his autobiography.

I found his recollections and perspective on his past much more interesting than those of Jonathan Miller in the piece on him. (What a cold fish Miller sounded, I was surprised, but then I don’t know all that much about him).

By: Gail Davis

Gail Davis — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 22:43:03 +0000

I had a pleasant surprise when I visited your website to see early photos of my Father and his brothers. My Father was Emanuel’s oldest brother. His parents called him Abraham (Abie) Litvinoff. He was mentioned in ‘Journey Through a Small Planet’. When he grew up he decided to change his name to Alfred Lister and became an accountant. He was the tallest boy in the photo of the three small boys and the soldier on the left of Emanuel in the three soldiers picture. The soldier on the right was Barnet Litvinoff. He was a famous writer of Jewish History Books and Biographies. His last book was his autobiography.

On 5th May 2012 some of Emanuel Litvinoff’s family and friends were invited to Mecklenburgh Square to celebrate his life. My Uncle lived in a flat in the Square for 46 years. We saw a Memorial park bench which his wife has put in his favourite part of the Gardens. Then we went into a college to hear readings from his poems and prose and see films of his life. It was a very emotional and interesting day.

Gail Davis

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 18:10:47 +0000

It was with great sadness that I learned of the passing of this wonderful person. I have been truly blessed to have known him, a true gentleman.

By: Karrie

Karrie — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 13:34:20 +0000

Fascinating article.. I’m truly inspired by your blog. It’s so wonderful to live in an area that has so much history and you manage to enumerate this in your articles.

If you know anything about the Tea building on Shoreditch High Street – would love for you to look into – as I run concrete in the basement and although lots of work has been done on it, I see remnants of past factory life.

Thank you for sharing your stories with us.

By: SALLY FLOOD

SALLY FLOOD — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:29:06 +0000

I too read Little Planet many years ago and never forgot the young teenager who carried his manuscript in a plastic bag, good to know you still with us

By: freddie hill

freddie hill — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:00:09 +0000

Dear Mr.Litvinoff,
Nearly 40 years after reading “A Death Out of Season” I picked up a copy of “Blood on the Snow” at a Left bookshop in Sydney and devoured it with the same ardour as the earlier work. Growing up in the intellectual crucible of 1960’s Hampstead I was a close neighbour of your brother Barnet and his family; I remember meeting you at least once. Your nephew Adrian and I were in each other’s first ever jazz combo together and I retained sporadic contact with him until I left for Australia in 1979. I am delighted to know you are still with us and I am keen to hear news of you and other members of the family.
The Eliot references continue to intrigue me as I was a voracious reader of his work while not being blind to his gratuitous antisemitism, a blind spot he shares with Shaw, Wells and other literary giants I otherwise respect.
May you live to be 120!
Yours sincerely,
Frederick R.(Freddie)Hill B.Mus. (Cardiff) Dip.Ed (Sydney)