Erica Jong
| Erica Jong | |
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Jong in 1977
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| Born | Erica Mann March 26, 1942 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Pen name | Erica Jong |
| Occupation | Author and teacher |
| Nationality | American |
| Period | 1973–present |
| Genre | Primarily fiction and poetry |
| Notable works | Fear of Flying, Shylock's Daughter, Seducing the Demon |
| Spouse | Michael Werthman (1963–1965; divorced) Allan Jong (1966–1975; divorced) Jonathan Fast (1977–1982; divorced; 1 child) Kenneth David Burrows (1989–present) |
| Children | Molly Jong-Fast |
| Website | |
| www |
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Erica Jong (née Mann; born March 26, 1942) is an American novelist and poet, known particularly for her 1973 novel Fear of Flying. The book became famously controversial for its attitudes towards female sexuality and figured prominently in the development of second-wave feminism. According to Washington Post, it has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide.
Jong was born on March 26, 1942 in New York, the second of three daughters of Seymour Mann and Eda Mirsky. Jong attended New York's The High School of Music & Art in the 1950s, where she developed her passion for art and writing. As a student at Barnard College, Jong edited the Barnard Literary Magazine and created poetry programs for the Columbia University campus radio station.
A 1963 graduate of Barnard College with an MA (1965) in 18th century English Literature from Columbia University, Jong is best known for her first novel, Fear of Flying (1973), which created a sensation with its frank treatment of a woman's sexual desires. Although it contains many sexual elements, the book is mainly the account of a hypersensitive young woman, in her late twenties, trying to find who she is and where she is going. It contains many psychological, humorous, descriptive elements, and rich cultural and literary references. The book tries to answer the many conflicts arising in women in late 1960s and early 1970s America, of womanhood, femininity, love, one's quest for freedom and purpose.
Jong was born and grew up in New York City. She is the middle daughter of Seymour Mann (né Nathan Weisman, died 2004), and Eda Mirsky (1911 - 2012). Her father was a businessman of Polish Jewish ancestry who owned a gifts and home accessories company known as "one of the world's most acclaimed makers of collectible porcelain dolls". Her mother was born in England of a Russian Jewish immigrant family, was a painter and textile designer who also designed dolls for her husband's company. Jong has an elder sister, Suzanna, who married Lebanese businessman Arthur Daou, and a younger sister, Claudia, a social worker who married Gideon S. Oberweger (the chief executive officer of Seymour Mann Inc. until his death in 2006). Among her nephews is Peter Daou, who writes "The Daou Report" for salon.com.
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