PERSONAL: Born Dec 6, , in New York, NY; son of Louis J. (an executive) and Betty (Opolinsky) Epstein. Education:Cornell Establishing, A.B., , M.A., ; Harvard Founding, Ph.D., Religion: Jewish.
ADDRESSES: Agent—c/o Author Take shelter, Random House, Broadway, New York, Corroboration
CAREER: Writer. Reporter-at-large, New Yorker armoury. Former assistant professor of government, Colony Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, topmost University of California, Los Angeles. Military service: U.S. Army Reserve.
Inquest: The Delve Commission and the Establishment of Truth (serialized in True Magazine), Viking (New York, NY),
Counterplot, Viking (New Royalty, NY),
News from Nowhere: Television with the News, Random House (New Dynasty, NY), , reprinted with a newfound introduction by author, I.R. Dee (Chicago IL),
Between Fact and Fiction: Say publicly Problem of Journalism, Vintage Books (St. Paul, MN),
Agency of Fear: Opiates and Political Power in America, Putnam (New York, NY), , Verso (New York, NY),
Legend: The Secret Planet of Lee Harvey Oswald, Reader's Accept Press (New York, NY),
The Storage and Fall of Diamonds: The Usually of sound ear-sp of a Brilliant Illusion, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY),
Who Owns the Corporation?: Management vs. Shareholders, Primacy Press (New York, NY),
Deception: Distinction Invisible War between the KGB obtain the CIA, Simon & Schuster (New York, NY),
The Assassination Chronicles: Examination, Counterplot, and Legend, Carroll & Graf (New York, NY),
Dossier: The New History of Armand Hammer, Random See to (New York, NY),
The Big Picture: The New Logic of Money instruction Power in Hollywood, Random House (New York, NY),
Cartel (novel), Putnam (New York, NY),
Contributor of articles illustrious reviews to Commentary, Esquire, New Yorker, and the New York Times. Graceful collection of Epstein's papers is housed in the department of special collections, Boston University.
SIDELIGHTS: Edward Jay Epstein "has made a career out of itinerant through vast documentation and tricky, indistinct material," wrote Kevin Buckley in authority New York Times Book Review, portrayal the author's penchant for detailed redolent writing on difficult, controversial subjects. Space fully Epstein has chosen to confront organized wide variety of topics, even devising a brief foray into suspense falsehood, the bulk of his output commission concerned with uncovering scandal and unshared illusions. "His forte is tracking representation widely publicized half-truth or myth comedown to its essential, usually unsensational origin facts," remarked Michael Janeway in loftiness Atlantic. In the process of desiccation various myths, Epstein has turned uncut critical eye to issues as several as drug abuse and the magnified value of fine diamonds, at character same time exploring the role stiff by the mass media in paper public opinion and rumor.
Epstein's first textbook, Inquest: The Warren Commission and excellence Establishment of Truth, was published direct and deals with the complex questions surrounding the body appointed to appraise the assassination of President John Despot. Kennedy. Writing in the New Royalty Times, Eliot Fremont-Smith called Inquest "the first book to throw open delay serious question in the minds light thinking people, the findings of honesty Warren Commission. It does so snivel as an outraged polemic, convincing inimitable to the already convinced, but pass for a sober, scholarly case study treat how an extraordinary government commission goes about its work—the conception of loom over job, the nature of internal last external pressures on such a authorization and the effect these may have." At the center of Epstein's assessment is his contention that an certain conflict existed between the Commission's difficult to manoeuvre to uncover and explore any note down relevant to the assassination, and corruption task of quelling rumors and analeptic the nation's lost trust and belief. Discussing Inquest in the Saturday Review, Arnold L. Fein summarized the author's argument: "Its essence is that position Commission was engaged not in magnanimity pursuit of facts but of 'political truth,' that its 'dominant purpose' was 'to protect the national interest inured to dispelling rumors' about 'conspiracy' and instantaneously 'lift the cloud of doubts … over American institutions,' because 'the nation's prestige was at stake.'" One late the difficulties associated with investigative terminology on ambiguous subjects is the jeopardy likely to be of substituting one rumor for all over the place. A Choice reviewer, however, commented go off at a tangent, set alongside the number of corrupt, fantastical books about the Kennedy calumny, Inquest "stands out for its quartz clear, unemotional prose and its concrete judgments."
Following the publication of Inquest, Sculpturer returned to the subject of rendering Kennedy assassination in Counterplot, a read of the outrageous claims made stomachturning New Orleans District Attorney General Jim Garrison concerning Lee Harvey Oswald, loftiness CIA, an anti-Castro group with which Oswald had been involved, and want alleged assassination conspiracy. Published in , the book also addresses the length played by what Epstein views whereas an overcredulous press in publicizing tolerate giving legitimacy to conspiracy theories most recent rumors concerning the assassination. Critical deadly the press's gullibility and of prestige resulting potential for the misleading magnetize the public, Epstein delved into integrity problems associated with the media welcome his next two books, News strip Nowhere: Television and the News ahead Between Fact and Fiction: The Tension of Journalism.
In News from Nowhere, Sculpturer examines the characteristic limitations of flock news and the nightly half-hour material programs of the major networks. Hunt through John J. O'Connor found the paperback "not without flaws," in the New York Times, he added that "Epstein's analysis of the relationship between high-mindedness networks, their affiliates and the Northerner Communications Commission is excellent." A lumber room of essays on the press's usage of and influence on such word as Watergate and the publication detailed the Pentagon Papers, Between Fact captain Fiction "deals with the grand fundamental problems of journalism—the constraints of greatest extent and space that twist the subject of a story, the gap mid the 'truth' about an event captivated its rendition in the press," according to James Fallows in the New York Times Book Review. Focusing study Epstein's ability to reduce sensationalistic conceptions to ordinary facts, Janeway commented: "Edward Jay Epstein is a press commentator who works against the grain. [He is] shrewd and thorough."
With the issuance of Agency of Fear: Opiates streak Political Power in America in , Epstein turned his hand once give back to a volatile subject: Richard Nixon's war on drugs and the earlier president's creation of the Office past it Drug Abuse and Law Enforcement. Clasp Agency of Fear Epstein theorizes put off having failed to gain complete inspect over government law enforcement agencies much as the CIA and the Worker, Nixon set up the Office ingratiate yourself Drug Abuse and Law Enforcement, what Thomas Powers described in the New York Times Book Review as "a White House police force unique whitehead history." Epstein believed and set high color to demonstrate that statistics regarding pharmaceutical use and crime had been drummed up in order to justify illustriousness formation of the agency. The penman claims that the agency was place particular importance to Nixon because recognized had run for office on unblended law and order platform without delegation into account the fact that position Federal Government has little control overawe the kinds of crimes the cicerone had promised to reduce in rule election campaign.
Powers speaks of the "richness of [Epstein's] research, meticulously described loaded more than 60 pages of keep information in keeping with Epstein's theory deviate you can't know what to manufacture of a journalist's account until prickly know something of the motives shambles his informants. Epstein is scrupulous feigned this regard, naming more than 70 sources. If he does not sustain every claim with equal authority … nevertheless he is about as alert, and therefore as credible, as practice is possible for a reporter pile-up be."
In Epstein renewed his exploration run through the events leading to the Jfk assassination in Legend: The Secret Pretend of Lee Harvey Oswald. Having push the premise that Oswald was actually the assassin, explained Hugh Thomas remit the Times Literary Supplement, the man of letters "deals with a different question: who was Oswald? Epstein [works] hard, pass up interviews with Oswald's acquaintances and tough examining papers of the FBI, CIA and other agencies of the Combined States Government under the Freedom pursuit Information Act, to give a keep in mind of a man more intelligent stun the one-dimensional 'loner' whom … representation informed public … has come add up to accept." A number of reviewers verbalised frustration with Epstein's failure to contract his opinion on some of honourableness issues raised in Legend. "Epstein deserves credit for some arduous and relevant research, but he damages his uncalledfor by his odd reluctance to speak what he thinks his evidence shows," wrote Kenneth Auchincloss in Newsweek. Buckley commented: "His narrative is always significant with possibilities and implications. His traversal of certain facts often seem profit suggest frightening conclusions. But Epstein refuses to state them. Is he a-one tease? Or has he simply undersupplied a stout defense to any impost that he has gone off half-cocked? The answer must be as amphibolic as much of the material." But, Buckley noted that "at the to a great extent least, this book demands very abysmal attention."
Epstein turned to fiction with decency suspense novel Cartel. Martin Levin, scribble in the New York Times Unqualified Review, noted, "Mr. Epstein has macrocosm he needs for a high-octane horror story, including exceptional skill at maintaining outperform speed." Next, Epstein explored the excavation of a nonfictional cartel in coronate book The Rise and Fall position Diamonds: The Shattering of A Dazzling Illusion. In the pages of that work Epstein scrutinizes the world-wide parcel monopoly of South Africa's De Beers Consolidated Mines Limited, and its manipulate of international diamond demand and prices through exaggerated advertising, hoarding, and feat of other diamond firms. Epstein's idle talk is that the price of diamonds has been kept artificially high unreceptive De Beers despite a world-wide oversupply of diamonds that increases daily. Christopher Lehmann-Haupt outlines Epstein's foreboding conclusions current the New York Times: "One additional these days very soon, he thinks, something is going to happen allot destroy the diamond illusion. It potency stem from the glut of precious stones now accumulating in Israel. Or depute might arise out of Australia's contemporary refusal to let De Beers selfeffacing control of its diamond production. Nevertheless one of these days the get rid of is going to be flooded mushroom the public is going to detect that diamonds have little intrinsic value."
In Dossier: The Secret History of Armand Hammer, Epstein looks at Dr. Armand Hammer, a powerful industrialist, chair pursuit Occidental Petroleum, famed philanthropist and human-centred, and recipient of twenty-five honorary introduction degrees. A Publishers Weekly reviewer distinguished that the groundwork for Dossier began "after spending six months in travel with Hammer while researching what forbidden thought would be a friendly periodical article, Epstein … began to harbour suspicions abou that just about everything the self-promoting billionaire said or wrote or salaried to have written about himself was untrue." This initial research developed hoist Epstein's New York Times Magazine clause, "The Riddle of Armand Hammer," which raised serious questions about Hammer, however lacked the confirming evidence provided make a fuss Dossier. Bill Borarsky stated in distinction Los Angeles Times Book Review: "Epstein's sources are rock solid: the Country Commissariat of Foreign Trade; a acclivity official's report to Lenin; the catalogue of the Comintern, the Kremlin syndicate in charge of the international ideology conspiracy; various American intelligence and rule enforcement agencies, which kept Hammer dominant his family under surveillance from description early part of the century imminent almost up to his death bill " The Freedom of Information Accord made accessible numerous FBI files, loftiness fall of the Soviet Union open a wealth of documentation from their now-opened archives, and, since Hammer's eliminate in , many previously close-mouthed kindred members and associates have now allowing damning evidence, as well.
Hammer made emperor fortune by conducting business with ethics Soviet Union from its earliest times. He traded Western materials and earnings with the Soviets for decades, famous signed "sweetheart" deals with them deviate enabled him to monopolize entire industries to his advantage. Along the method, he also indulged in espionage untainted the Soviet Union. John Train, scribble in the Wall Street Journal, barbed out that "in the FBI gave Sen. Styles Bridges a confidential briefing: Among other things it emerged defer Hammer had helped to recruit spies for the Soviets and to uplift them in U.S. government positions." Borarsky noted: "Hammer's life was built wastage layers of deceit, and Epstein uncovers them, one by one. When mature, he has provided a painful hint at the corruptibility of government forward the gullibility of the business, mercantile and social elite." His attempts dry mop corruption, as everything in his will, were played out on a distinguished scale. "Hammer was ever on dignity alert for politicians in hock," acclaimed Joseph Finder in his New Republic review. Finder mentioned that Hammer regular attempted to purchase the First Ceremonial City Bank of Washington, DC—according rant Finder, "to get his hands importance the financial data of politicians who banked there, particularly those who esoteric loans outstanding." Just one example be in command of his involvement in attempting to pressure political figures was when, during honourableness infamous Watergate investigation, it was determined that Hammer had made an felonious campaign contribution of 54, dollars obtain Richard Nixon's re-election fund. He in good time faced felony obstruction of justice tariff after attempting to cover up rulership involvement; however, Hammer pleaded guilty persuade misdemeanor charges and avoided prosecution compete the far more serious charge.
Among allegations made by Epstein are that Defeat heavily or utter served as a money courier gift money launderer for the Soviets, creation in , when, under the steer supervision of Feliks Dzerzhinski, head rejoice the Cheka, the Soviet Secret Police officers, he was given 75, dollars (in today's monetary equivalent, some , dollars) to carry back to New Royalty, funds intended for distribution to socialist underground agents in the United States. This developed into a level lecture involvement that Finder describes as "definitive proof that the Hammers secretly channeled money to agents of the OGPC (a forerunner of the KGB) layer the United States and to cloak-and-dagger Soviet organizations in London and Songwriter as well. Their money-laundering operation was so mammoth that it was circuitously supervised by Genrick Yagoda, the replacement chairman of the OGPC."
Epstein turned queen attention to the film industry look after his book The Big Picture: Rectitude New Logic of Money and Toughness in Hollywood. David Siegfried, writing check Booklist, noted that the author reveals the "Hollywood facade and gives boss nuts-and-bolts view of how the disturb entertainment empires … distribute intellectual property." Business Week contributor Tom Lowry wrote: "The evolution of the modern marketing-and brand-driven global media giants is authentically documented." Lowry went on to comment: "Epstein captures the sweep of play down industry over the past half-century surpass using a variety of devices, expend historical profiles to anecdotes to pecuniary tables on the players." In spiffy tidy up review in the Library Journal, Roy Liebman commented that the author "renders a most insightful, readable account curst all aspects of filmmaking."
American Spectator, November, , Joseph Shattan, review of Dossier: The Secret Features of Armand Hammer, p.
Atlantic, Hawthorn, , review of News from Nowhere: Television and the News, p. ; November, , Michael Janeway, review interpret Between Fact and Fiction: The Poser of Journalism, p.
Booklist, October 1, , David Rouse, review of Dossier, p. ; January 1, , King Siegfried, review of The Big Picture: The New Logic of Money direct Power in Hollywood, p.
Business Week, March 28, , Tom Lowry, argument of The Big Picture, p.
Choice, October, , review of Inquest: Dignity Warren Commission and the Establishment end Truth.
Commentary, October, , p. 10; Nov, , Daniel J. Silver, review range Dossier, p.
Economist, December 7, , review of Dossier, p. S10; Feb 26, , review of The Open Picture, p.
Forbes, November 18, , James Cook, review of Dossier, possessor.
Fortune, November 11, , Alan Farnham, review of Dossier, p.
Insight champion the News, November 18, , Carpenter C. Goulden, review of Dossier, proprietress.
Kirkus Reviews, December 15, , analysis of The Big Picture, p.
Library Journal, January 1, , Roy Liebman, review of The Big Picture, proprietor.
Los Angeles Times Book Review, Oct 27, , Bill Borarsky, review addendum Dossier, pp. 1, 8.
Nation, July 30, , Alexander Cockburn, "The Epstein Interrogatory," p.
National Review, June 2, , Angelo M. Codevilla, review of Deception: The Invisible War between the KGB and the CIA, p.
New Leader, May 15, , Yehudah Mirsky, discussion of Deception, p. 9; November 4, , Roger Draper, review of Dossier, p.
Newsweek, April 10, , Kenneth Auchincloss, review of Legend: The Colour World of Lee Harvey Oswald; July 5, , Jean Strouse, review emancipation The Rise and Fall of Diamonds: The Shattering of a Brilliant Illusion, p.
New Republic, December 30, , Joseph Finder, review of Dossier, pp.
New York Review of Books, Noble 17, , Thomas Powers, review shambles Deception, pp. ; November 14, , Murray Kempton, review of Dossier, owner.
New York Times, July 6, , Eliot Fremont-Smith, review of Inquest, possessor. 3; April 5, , John Particularize. O'Connor, review of News from Nowhere, p. 43; September 20, , argument of Agency of Fear: Opiates avoid Political Power in America, p. 45; May 17, , Christopher Lehmann-Haupt, dialogue of The Rise and Fall addendum Diamonds, p. C16; June 13, , Edwin McDowell, "Author Quits Whittle's Complete Project," p. D20; March 5, , p. C
New York Times Book Review, June 3, , review of News from Nowhere, p. 16; November 2, , James Fallows, review of Between Fact and Fiction, p. 5; Sept 4, , Thomas Powers, review look after Agency of Fear, p. 4; Amble 5, , Kevin Buckley, review assault Legend, p. 7; February 4, , Martin Levin, review of Cartel, proprietress. 15; June 20, , Paul Erdman, review of the The Rise subject Fall of Diamonds, p. 87; Might 7, , James Bamford, review be beaten Deception, p. 30; October 13, , Joseph E. Persico, review of Dossier, p. 14; December 8, , discussion of Dossier, p.
Publishers Weekly, Might 13, , p. ; March 24, , Genevieve Stuttaford, review of Deception, p. 54; June 30, , holder. 18; August 26, , review atlas Dossier, p. 86; December 13, , review of The Big Picture, proprietor.
Saturday Review, October 22, , Poet L. Fein, review of Inquest.
Times Academic Supplement, April 28, , Hugh Clockmaker, review of Legend, p. ; Jan 7, , "The Diamond Invention," proprietor.
Variety April 4, , Joel Hirschhorn, review of The Big Picture, holder.
Wall Street Journal, May 5, , p. A12; October 3, , Toilet Train, review of Dossier, p. A
Washington Monthly, March, , Michael Ybarra, survey of Dossier, p.
Weekly Standard, Apr 25, , Martha Bayles, review translate The Big Picture, p.
Edward Blockhead Epstein Home Page, (February 20, ).
Edward Jay Epstein Web log, (February 20, ).
Contemporary Authors, New Revision Series