Date of Birth: July 27, 1916
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Date of Death: December 2, 2007
Biography
Elizabeth Hardwick was a renowned American literary critic, novelist, and essayist. Born in Lexington, Kentucky, she became a pivotal figure in the New York literary scene. Hardwick co-founded the influential literary magazine, the New York Review of Books, and contributed to its reputation as a platform for serious intellectual discourse. Her sharp and insightful critiques of literature and culture earned her widespread respect and admiration. Hardwick’s work often explored themes of identity, power, and the role of the artist in society. Her notable works include “Sleepless Nights” and collections of essays such as “Seduction and Betrayal.” Throughout her career, Hardwick was known for her incisive intellect, eloquent prose, and commitment to the literary arts.
5 Interesting Facts about Elizabeth Hardwick
1. Elizabeth Hardwick co-founded the New York Review of Books in 1963 alongside her husband, poet Robert Lowell, and editor Robert B. Silvers.
2. Her novel “Sleepless Nights” (1979) is a semi-autobiographical work celebrated for its innovative form and lyrical style.
3. Hardwick was a recipient of the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the “Genius Grant,” in 1996.
4. She was married to the poet Robert Lowell from 1949 until their divorce in 1972, and their tumultuous relationship was a subject of much public interest.
5. Hardwick taught writing at Barnard College and Columbia University, influencing a generation of young writers and critics.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Elizabeth Hardwick
1. “The greatest gift is the passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind. It is a moral illumination.”
2. “Books give not wisdom where none was before. But where some is, there reading makes it more.”
3. “The perception of the writer’s task is sometimes confused with the perception of the writer’s life.”
4. “In life there are no short cuts to joy. Anything that is worth doing is worth doing slowly.”
5. “Adversity is a great teacher, but its lessons are often bitter and hard to swallow.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
Elizabeth Hardwick’s highest net worth is not precisely documented, but her influence and contributions to the literary world were invaluable.
Children
Elizabeth Hardwick and Robert Lowell had one daughter, Harriet Lowell, born in 1957.
Relevant Links
1. [New York Review of Books](https://www.nybooks.com
2. [Biography on Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Hardwick
3. [MacArthur Fellowship](https://www.macfound.org/fellows/554/
4. [Barnard College Faculty](https://barnard.edu
5. [Columbia University Faculty](https://www.columbia.edu
