Fawn M. Brodie

Date of Birth: September 15, 1915

Zodiac Sign: Virgo

Date of Death: January 10, 1981

Biography

Fawn M. Brodie was a distinguished American historian and biographer, best known for her works on controversial figures in American history. Born on September 15, 1915, in Ogden, Utah, Brodie grew up in a devout Mormon family. She attended the University of Utah and later earned her master’s degree from the University of Chicago. Brodie’s most notable work, “No Man Knows My History,” is a biography of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement. Published in 1945, the book provided a critical and scholarly look at Smith’s life, which was controversial both within and outside the Mormon community. Her approach to biography, which blended psychological insight with rigorous historical research, set a new standard in the genre. In addition to her biography of Joseph Smith, Brodie wrote several other significant works, including “Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History,” which explored the complexities of Jefferson’s personality and private life, and “Richard Nixon: The Shaping of His Character,” which examined the early influences on the life of the 37th President of the United States. Brodie’s work often sparked debate and controversy, but her contributions to historical scholarship have been widely recognized and respected. She passed away on January 10, 1981, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking biographical work.

5 Interesting Facts about Fawn M. Brodie

1. Fawn M. Brodie was excommunicated from the Mormon Church in 1946 following the publication of her biography on Joseph Smith.

2. Her biography of Thomas Jefferson was one of the first to explore his relationship with Sally Hemings, a slave at Monticello.

3. Brodie received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1975 for her contributions to historical writing.

4. She was a professor of history at UCLA for many years.

5. Despite the controversies, her work on Joseph Smith remains one of the most respected scholarly biographies of the Mormon prophet.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Fawn M. Brodie

1. “A historian has many duties, and among the most important is loyalty to the truth.”

2. “Biography is a very personal kind of history.”

3. “The great strength of history is its ability to see the long view.”

4. “No man knows my history. I cannot tell it; I shall never undertake it.”

5. “The past is never dead. It’s not even past.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

Fawn M. Brodie’s highest net worth is not well-documented, but her works have continued to sell well posthumously, contributing to her lasting influence and legacy.

Children

Fawn M. Brodie had three children with her husband, Bernard Brodie, a noted military strategist and UCLA professor. Their children have pursued various professional paths, though specific details about their careers and lives remain private.