Lionel Trilling

Date of Birth: July 4, 1905

Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Date of Death: November 5, 1975

Biography

Lionel Trilling was an American literary critic, essayist, and professor, widely regarded as one of the most influential critics of the 20th century. Born in New York City, Trilling was the son of Eastern European Jewish immigrants. He attended Columbia University, where he earned both his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees. Trilling began his teaching career at the same institution, eventually becoming a full professor. Trilling’s work explored the intersection of literature, politics, and social issues, and he was known for his insightful analyses of both classic and contemporary literature. His most famous work, “The Liberal Imagination,” published in 1950, is a collection of essays that examines the role of literature and culture in shaping political thought. Trilling’s other notable works include “The Opposing Self” and “Sincerity and Authenticity.” In addition to his writing and teaching, Trilling was a public intellectual who engaged in debates about the cultural and moral issues of his time. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and received numerous honors throughout his career.

5 Interesting Facts about Lionel Trilling

1. Lionel Trilling was the first Jewish professor to receive tenure in the English Department at Columbia University.

2. His wife, Diana Trilling, was also a notable literary critic and author.

3. Trilling’s work often focused on the moral and ethical dimensions of literature.

4. He was a significant figure in the New York Intellectuals, a group of writers and critics who were influential in mid-20th-century American culture.

5. Trilling’s essay “Manners, Morals, and the Novel” is considered a seminal work in the field of literary criticism.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Lionel Trilling

1. “We who are liberal and progressive know that the poor are our equals in every sense except that of being equal to us.”

2. “Literature is the human activity that takes the fullest and most precise account of variousness, possibility, complexity, and difficulty.”

3. “The function of literature, through all its mutations, has been to make us aware of the particularity of human experience.”

4. “In the most secret heart of every intellectual, there is a bottomless skepticism.”

5. “The immature artist imitates. The mature artist steals.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

While specific figures for Lionel Trilling’s net worth are not readily available, his highest net worth is generally considered modest, given his career primarily in academia and literary criticism, fields not typically known for generating substantial wealth.

Children

Lionel Trilling and his wife, Diana Trilling, had one son, James Trilling. James followed in his parents’ intellectual footsteps and became an art historian and author.