Erica Jong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Erica Jong
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Jong in 1977
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| Born | Erica Mann March 26, 1942 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation |
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| Alma mater | Barnard College (BA) Columbia University (MA) |
| Period | 1973–present |
| Genre | Primarily fiction and poetry |
| Notable works | Fear of Flying, Shylock's Daughter, ... the Demon |
| Spouse |
Michael Werthman
(m. 1963, divorced)Allan Jong
(m. 1966, divorced)Jonathan Fast
(m. 1977, divorced)Kenneth David Burrows
(m. 1989; |
| Children | Molly Jong-Fast |
| Relatives | Peter Daou (nephew) |
Erica Jong (born March 26, 1942) is an American writer. She is famous for her novels and poems. Her 1973 novel, Fear of Flying, became very popular. It was known for discussing women's freedom and feelings. By 2022, over 37 million copies of the book had been sold worldwide.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Erica Jong was born on March 26, 1942. Her birth name was Erica Mann. She has two sisters, Suzanna and Claudia. Her father, Seymour Mann, owned a company that made gifts and home items, including porcelain dolls. Her mother, Eda Mirsky, was a painter and textile designer. She also designed dolls for her husband's company.
Erica went to The High School of Music & Art in New York in the 1950s. There, she discovered her love for art and writing. Later, as a student at Barnard College, she was the editor of the Barnard Literary Magazine. She also created poetry shows for the Columbia University radio station, WKCR.
Career as a Writer
Erica Jong is best known for her first novel, Fear of Flying (1973). The book became famous for its honest look at a woman's thoughts and desires. It tells the story of Isadora Wing, a woman in her late twenties. Isadora is searching to understand herself and her path in life. Jong used humor and deep descriptions in the book. She also included many cultural and literary references.
The book explored challenges women faced in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These challenges included ideas about womanhood, relationships, and the desire for freedom. The story of Isadora Wing continues in two more novels. These are How to Save Your Own Life (1977) and Parachutes and Kisses (1984).
Personal Life
After her first two marriages ended, Jong married novelist and educator Jonathan Fast in 1977. Jonathan is the son of novelist Howard Fast. Their marriage was mentioned in her books How to Save Your Own Life and Parachutes and Kisses. Erica and Jonathan Fast have a daughter named Molly Jong-Fast. Molly Jong-Fast wrote a book about her relationship with her mother. It is called How to Lose Your Mother.
Erica Jong's third marriage also ended in divorce. She later married Kenneth David Burrows, a lawyer from New York. They were married until his death on December 14, 2023.
Where She Lived
Jong lived on an army base in Heidelberg, West Germany, for three years (1966–69). This was with her second husband. She often visited Venice, Italy. She wrote about Venice in her novel Shylock's Daughter. She lived in an apartment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan until 2023. She also owned a house in Connecticut. In 2007, her writings and papers were bought by Columbia University in Manhattan.
Other Mentions
Erica Jong is mentioned in the song "Highlands". This song is on Bob Dylan's album Time Out of Mind (1997). Dylan's song mentions her as a "women author" whose books the narrator reads. In 2008, Jong spoke in favor of marriage equality. She said it helps promote stability and family life.
As of 2025, Erica Jong lives in a nursing home in Manhattan.
Awards and Recognition
Erica Jong has received several awards for her writing:
- Poetry Magazine's Bess Hokin Prize (1971)
- Sigmund Freud Award For Literature (1975)
- United Nations Award For Excellence In Literature (1998)
- Deauville Award For Literary Excellence In France
- Fernanda Pivano Award For American Literature In Italy
Documentary
- 2023 Erica Jong - Breaking the Wall by Kaspar Kasics
See also
In Spanish: Erica Jong para niños
