David Marcus facts for kids
David Marcus was an important Irish writer and editor. He was born in County Cork, Ireland, in 1924. He spent his life helping other Irish writers. David Marcus also wrote his own popular books. He was a proud Irish Jew. He passed away in 2009.
A Life Dedicated to Irish Writing
David Marcus was born in County Cork in 1924. He became famous for editing many collections of Irish stories and poems. These collections were called "anthologies." One well-known series was the Phoenix Irish Short Stories.
He also started a special page called New Irish Writing in the Irish Press newspaper. This page was a place for new Irish authors to get their work published. Many famous Irish writers got their start here. Some of these writers include Dermot Bolger, Anne Enright, Neil Jordan, and Colm Tóibín. A writer named Fintan O'Toole said David Marcus was "the single most important literary editor in Ireland in the second half of the 20th century." This shows how much he helped Irish literature.
His Own Stories
David Marcus also wrote his own books. His 1986 novel, A Land Not Theirs, was very popular. It told a story based on the experiences of the Jewish community in Cork. This was during the Irish War of Independence. His second novel, A Land in Flames, also did very well. It also drew on his experiences growing up in the Cork Jewish community.
In 2001, Marcus wrote a book about his own life. It was called Oughtobiography – Leaves from the diary of a hyphenated Jew. In this book, he shared his experiences as an Irish Jew. He also wrote about his important role in Irish literature.
Recognition and Family
On June 3, 2005, David Marcus received a special award. He was given an honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature. This was from the National University of Ireland, University College, Cork.
David Marcus was married to another Irish novelist, Ita Daly. They lived in Rathgar in Dublin. In 2016, Ita Daly wrote a book about their life together. It was called I'll Drop You a Line: A Life With David Marcus.
