Harold Brodkey

Date of Birth: October 25, 1930

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

Date of Death: January 26, 1996

Biography

Harold Brodkey, born Aaron Roy Weintraub, was an American author celebrated for his meticulous and evocative prose. Born on October 25, 1930, in Staunton, Illinois, Brodkey was adopted at an early age after his biological mother passed away. He was raised in University City, Missouri, where his adoptive father worked as a school teacher and his mother as a nurse. Brodkey’s literary career began with short stories published in prominent magazines such as The New Yorker. His first collection of stories, “First Love and Other Sorrows,” was published in 1958 and garnered significant acclaim. However, Brodkey is perhaps best known for his novel “The Runaway Soul” (1991), a work that was decades in the making and was anticipated with great interest within literary circles. Throughout his life, Brodkey was a perfectionist, often spending years revising his works. This meticulous approach to writing sometimes resulted in long gaps between publications, but it also contributed to the high quality and depth of his prose. He continued to write until his death on January 26, 1996, in New York City.

5 Interesting Facts about Harold Brodkey

1. Harold Brodkey spent over 25 years working on his novel “The Runaway Soul.”

2. He was a staff writer at The New Yorker for many years, where his short stories frequently appeared.

3. Brodkey’s work often delves into themes of memory, identity, and family relationships.

4. He was a recipient of the Prix de Rome, a prestigious award that allowed him to write and study in Italy.

5. Brodkey was open about his battle with AIDS, writing candidly about his experiences with the disease in his later years.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harold Brodkey

1. “I distrust summaries, any kind of gliding past the complexity of things.”

2. “Life is made of ever so many partings welded together.”

3. “I have a talent for recognizing talent in others.”

4. “Memory is the only paradise from which we cannot be driven.”

5. “Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, Harold Brodkey’s net worth was estimated to be around $1 million, primarily derived from his literary works and contributions to magazines.