Barbara W. Tuchman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Barbara W. Tuchman
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Tuchman in 1971
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| Born | Barbara Wertheim January 30, 1912 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | February 6, 1989 (aged 77) Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Nationality | American |
| Period | 1938–1988 (writer) |
| Genre | History |
| Subject | Middle Ages, Renaissance, American Revolution, Edwardian era, World War I |
| Spouse |
Lester R. Tuchman
(m. 1940) |
| Children | 3 (including Jessica Mathews) |
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Barbara Wertheim Tuchman (born January 30, 1912 – died February 6, 1989) was a famous American historian and author. She wrote many popular history books. These books made history interesting for millions of readers.
Tuchman won the important Pulitzer Prize twice. She won for The Guns of August (1962). This book was about the start of World War I. She also won for Stilwell and the American Experience in China (1971). This book was a biography of General Joseph Stilwell.
Contents
Early Life and Influences
Barbara Wertheim was born on January 30, 1912. Her father, Maurice Wertheim, was a wealthy banker. He owned The Nation magazine and was a big art collector. Her mother, Alma Morgenthau, was the daughter of Henry Morgenthau Sr.. He was an American ambassador.
Barbara was influenced by books from a young age. She loved the historical novels of Alexandre Dumas. She also enjoyed books by Lucy Fitch Perkins and G. A. Henty.
She went to the Walden School in New York City. Later, she studied history and literature at Radcliffe College. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1933.
A Young Witness to History
When Barbara was only two years old, she was present during a big event. This event was part of what she later wrote about in The Guns of August. She was in Constantinople (now Istanbul) with her family.
They were there when two German warships, Goeben and Breslau, arrived. These ships were being chased by British ships. This chase was a key moment leading up to World War I. Barbara later wrote about this event in her book. She mentioned that her grandfather, Ambassador Henry Morgenthau, was also there.
Becoming a Researcher and Journalist
After college, Barbara worked as a research assistant. She volunteered at the Institute of Pacific Relations in New York. She spent a year in Tokyo, Japan, from 1934 to 1935. She also visited China during this time.
She traveled back to the U.S. by taking the Trans-Siberian Railway. This long train journey took her through Moscow and Paris.
Barbara also worked as a correspondent for The Nation magazine. Her father owned this magazine. She traveled to Spain to cover the Spanish Civil War. Her experiences there led to her first book. It was called The Lost British Policy: Britain and Spain Since 1700, published in 1938.
In 1940, Barbara Wertheim married Lester R. Tuchman. He was a doctor and a medical researcher. They had three daughters together. One of their daughters is Jessica Mathews, who became a well-known leader.
During World War II, Tuchman worked for the Office of War Information. After the war, she focused on raising her children. She also started researching for her next book. This book, Bible and Sword: England and Palestine from the Bronze Age to Balfour, was published in 1956.
A Renowned Historian
After Bible and Sword was published in 1956, Tuchman became a full-time historian. She wrote a new book about every four years. She believed not having an advanced degree in history helped her. She felt it gave her freedom to write in her own style.
Tuchman loved to write history in a literary way. This means she focused on telling stories clearly and beautifully. She didn't just focus on finding new facts. She made the past exciting for many readers.
Her storytelling skills were recognized in 1963. She won her first Pulitzer Prize for The Guns of August. This book explored the political events that led to World War I in 1914.
In 1971, she received the St. Louis Literary Award. She won her second Pulitzer Prize in 1972. This was for her biography of Joseph Stilwell, titled Stilwell and the American Experience in China.
Tuchman was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1978. She became the first female president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1979. She also won a U.S. National Book Award in 1980 for A Distant Mirror.
In 1980, Tuchman gave the Jefferson Lecture. This is a very high honor from the U.S. government for achievements in the humanities. Her lecture was called "Mankind's Better Moments".
Even though she didn't have a graduate degree in history, Tuchman received many honorary degrees. These came from top universities like Yale, Harvard, and Columbia. She also taught at places like Harvard and the Naval War College.
Death and Legacy
Barbara Tuchman passed away on February 6, 1989. She was 77 years old and died in Greenwich, Connecticut, after a stroke.
Her work continues to be important. A part of Currier House at Harvard College was named in her honor. Also, a prize for graduate students in history is named after her. It is called the "Barbara W. Tuchman Prize".
Images for kids
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Tuchman with William L. Shirer (left) and John Eisenhower (right) in 1971
See also
In Spanish: Barbara Tuchman para niños
