Date of Birth: May 27, 1915
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Date of Death: May 17, 2019
Biography
Herman Wouk was an American novelist born on May 27, 1915, in New York City, to Russian-Jewish immigrant parents. He became one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century, known for his historical and war-themed novels. Wouk graduated from Columbia University in 1934 and began his writing career in radio, working with comedian Fred Allen. His experiences during World War II, where he served as an officer in the United States Navy, greatly influenced his writing. Wouk’s breakthrough novel, “The Caine Mutiny,” published in 1951, won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was adapted into a successful Broadway play and film. He continued to explore themes of war, faith, and morality in his subsequent works, including “Marjorie Morningstar” (1955), “Youngblood Hawke” (1962), and the epic novels “The Winds of War” (1971) and “War and Remembrance” (1978), which were adapted into acclaimed television miniseries. Throughout his career, Wouk was celebrated for his meticulous research, compelling storytelling, and deep exploration of human nature. He was also a devout Jew, and his religious beliefs often informed his writing, as seen in works like “This Is My God” (1959) and “The Will to Live On” (2000). Wouk continued writing well into his later years, publishing his final novel, “The Lawgiver,” in 2012. He passed away on May 17, 2019, at the age of 103.
5 Interesting Facts about Herman Wouk
1. Herman Wouk won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1952 for his novel “The Caine Mutiny.”
2. His novels “The Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance” were adapted into highly successful television miniseries.
3. Wouk served as an officer in the United States Navy during World War II, which greatly influenced his writing.
4. He was awarded the United States Navy Memorial Foundation’s Lone Sailor Award in 1998.
5. Wouk’s final novel, “The Lawgiver,” was published when he was 97 years old.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Herman Wouk
1. “The only two things you can truly depend upon are gravity and greed.”
2. “Some people think that writing is no big deal, that anyone can do it. But writing is a craft, a profession, and it’s a lot of hard work.”
3. “War is a terrible thing. Nobody who has been in combat can ever truly get over it.”
4. “Write a page a day. It will add up.”
5. “Faith is the center of my life and the source of my writing.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Herman Wouk’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million.
Children
Herman Wouk had three children with his wife, Betty Sarah Brown: Abraham Isaac Wouk, Nathaniel Wouk, and Joseph Wouk.
Relevant Links
1. [Herman Wouk – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Wouk
2. [The New York Times Obituary](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/17/obituaries/herman-wouk-dead.html
3. [Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 1952](https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/herman-wouk
4. [The Winds of War Miniseries – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085112/
5. [The Lawgiver – Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13538745-the-lawgiver
