by Cara Saposnik
synopsis
The Gotham Book Mart in New York City has been considered a center for avant-garde literature for years. At the heart of this cultural gem is Frances Steloff, who at the time of the film was 100 years old. This documentary, narrated by Marian Seldes, tells the story of a woman and her dream to bring people together. She began with only $100 in 1920 at a time when e.e. cummings, Gertrude Stein, and others were in need of an outlet for their art. The Gotham Book Mart provided a venue for creativity and can certainly be viewed as an important historical landmark.
