author
Isaac Goldberg
1887–1938
A lively literary go-between of the early 20th century, he helped bring Spanish American and Brazilian writing to English-language readers while building a career as a critic, biographer, and journalist.
1 Audiobook
Brazilian Literature
by Isaac Goldberg
About the author
Born in Boston in 1887, he studied at Harvard, earning a B.A. in 1910, an M.A. in 1911, and a Ph.D. in 1912. Over the course of a busy career, he worked as a journalist, author, critic, translator, editor, publisher, and lecturer.
He is especially remembered for introducing Latin American literature to English-speaking audiences through books such as Studies in Spanish-American Literature and Brazilian Literature. He also translated fiction and drama, including works from Yiddish and other languages, and wrote biographies on figures ranging from Gilbert and Sullivan to George Gershwin.
Goldberg also served as literary editor of The American Freeman and later reviewed music for The American Mercury. He died on July 14, 1938, at age 50, leaving behind a body of work shaped by curiosity, range, and a gift for connecting readers with cultures beyond their own.