Date of Birth: September 3, 1926
Zodiac Sign: Virgo
Date of Death: December 3, 2020
Biography
Alison Lurie was an acclaimed American novelist and academic, renowned for her sharp social observations and satirical style. Born in Chicago, Illinois, she grew up in White Plains, New York, where she developed an early love for literature. Educated at Radcliffe College, Lurie published her first novel, “Love and Friendship,” in 1962. Over her prolific career, she authored multiple novels, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Foreign Affairs” (1984), which solidified her reputation as a keen observer of human relationships and societal norms. In addition to her novels, Lurie wrote non-fiction works and children’s literature, showcasing her versatility as a writer. Her academic career was equally notable; she served as a professor of English at Cornell University, where she specialized in children’s literature and folklore. Lurie’s work often explored themes of love, marriage, and the complexities of social interactions, all imbued with her characteristic wit and incisive commentary.
5 Interesting Facts about Alison Lurie
1. Alison Lurie won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1985 for her novel “Foreign Affairs.”
2. She was a distinguished professor of English at Cornell University, where she taught for over three decades.
3. Lurie was a close friend of the poet James Merrill, and their correspondence has been published.
4. Her novel “The War Between the Tates” was adapted into a television miniseries in 1977.
5. Lurie was also an accomplished children’s author, having written the “The Freddy and the Perilous Adventure” series.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Alison Lurie
1. “As one gets older, one discovers everything is going to be exactly the same with different hats on.”
2. “Love and friendship are not the same thing, but they are often confused.”
3. “The real marriage of true minds is for any two people to possess a sense of humor or irony pitched in exactly the same key.”
4. “We live in a fantasy world, a world of illusion. The great task in life is to find reality.”
5. “No one can be to blame for history.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of her career, Alison Lurie’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million.
Children
Alison Lurie had three children: John, Jeremy, and Elizabeth.
Relevant Links
1. [Wikipedia: Alison Lurie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alison_Lurie
2. [Pulitzer Prize Profile](https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/alison-lurie
3. [The New York Times Obituary](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/03/books/alison-lurie-dead.html
4. [Cornell University Faculty Page](https://english.cornell.edu/alison-lurie
5. [Alison Lurie’s Books on Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16691.Alison_Lurie
