AB

Anatole Broyard


====================

Full Name and Common Aliases


-----------------------------

Anatole Broyard was born on September 16, 1905, to a family of French-Canadian and Jewish heritage. He is often referred to by his pen name, Anatole.

Birth and Death Dates


-------------------------

Broyard was born in Brooklyn, New York, but spent most of his life in the city that would become synonymous with his literary pursuits: Paris, France (notably), and New York City, USA. Anatole Broyard passed away on October 12, 1990.

Nationality and Profession(s)


--------------------------------

Broyard's nationality was French-American or American, depending on how one defines it. As for profession, he is best known as a literary critic, essayist, and novelist.

Early Life and Background


-----------------------------

Growing up in Brooklyn's predominantly Jewish community had a lasting impact on Broyard's worldview and writing style. He developed a passion for literature at an early age, largely due to the influence of his parents, who encouraged his love of reading. However, it was not until he served in World War I that Anatole began seriously exploring his own creative voice.

Upon returning from war, Broyard attended Columbia University, where he honed his writing skills and developed friendships with notable literary figures such as James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway. His early years in Paris proved pivotal for Broyard's career; the city would become a hub of artistic and intellectual activity that greatly influenced his work.

Major Accomplishments


---------------------------

Anatole Broyard achieved numerous milestones throughout his life, including:

Writing as an essayist and critic for prominent publications such as The New Yorker, where he penned over 2,500 reviews.
Publishing four volumes of essays that garnered critical acclaim: Aspects of Poetry, A Thing I Know You Did Not Know, Kafka in Brooklyn, and Between Me and the World.
Receiving a Guggenheim Fellowship for his literary contributions.

Notable Works or Actions


-----------------------------

Some of Broyard's most notable works include:

His essay "In Defense of My Library," which appeared in The New Yorker, highlighted Broyard's passion for collecting rare books and his critique of modern society.
Kafka in Brooklyn, a collection of essays that demonstrated Anatole's unique ability to merge literary theory with everyday life.

Impact and Legacy


-----------------------

Anatole Broyard has left an indelible mark on the world of literature, particularly as a critic and essayist. His writing often explored themes of identity, culture, and the human condition.

Broyard's most enduring legacy may be his impact on young writers. He instilled in those who followed him a sense of purpose and passion for literary expression that has inspired generations to come.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


------------------------------------------

Anatole Broyard is widely remembered today due to his:

Profound insights into the human condition, expressed through essays and reviews that continue to resonate with readers.
Influence on younger writers who sought guidance from him as a mentor and critic.
Unique ability to merge literary theory with everyday life.

Through his writing, Anatole Broyard reminds us of the power of literature to shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Quotes by Anatole Broyard

"
The tension between 'yes' and 'no', between 'I can' and 'I cannot', makes us feel that, in so many instances, human life is an interminable debate with one's self.
"
I wanted to discuss my life with him not as a patient talking to an analyst but as if we were two literary critics discussing a novel... I had a literature rather than a personality, a set of fictions about myself.
"
I’m filled with desire – to live, to write, to do everything. Desire itself is a kind of immortality.
"
Either a writer doesn’t want to talk about his work, or he talks about it more than you want.
"
Aphorisms are bad for novels. They stick in the reader’s teeth.
"
The contents of someone’s bookcase are part of his history, like an ancestral portrait.
"
If a book is really good, it deserves to be read again, and if it’s great, it should be read at least three times.
"
We don’t simply read books. We become them.
"
A bookcase is as good as a view, as much of a panorama as the sight of a city or a river. There are dawns and sunsets in books – storms and zephyrs.
"
I remember a table in BarchesterTowers that had more character than the combined heroes of three recent novels I’ve read.
Showing 1 to 10 of 60 results