Carolyn G. Heilbrun
Carolyn G. Heilbrun
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Carolyn Goldsmith Heilbrun was a renowned American writer, literary critic, and academic. She is often referred to as Carolyn Heilbrun or Carolyn See (under her pseudonym for fiction writing).
Birth and Death Dates
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Carolyn G. Heilbrun was born on January 15, 1926, in New York City, USA, and passed away on October 3, 2003.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Heilbrun was an American writer, literary critic, and academic, primarily known for her work as a professor of English at Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania.
Early Life and Background
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Born in New York City to parents of German-Jewish descent, Heilbrun grew up in a family that valued education. Her father was an architect, and her mother worked as a volunteer social worker. Carolyn's early life was marked by a love for reading and writing, which she credits to the influence of her parents.
Heilbrun attended Hunter College High School, where she developed her passion for literature and writing. She went on to earn a Bachelor's degree from Bryn Mawr College in 1947, followed by a Master's degree from Radcliffe College (now part of Harvard University) in 1951.
Major Accomplishments
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Heilbrun's academic career spanned over four decades, during which she taught at several prestigious institutions. Her notable achievements include:
Publishing numerous scholarly articles and reviews in prominent literary magazines such as _The New Yorker_ and _The New York Review of Books_
Authoring influential books on women's studies, including _Toward a Recognition of Androgyny_ (1973) and _The Education of a Woman: The Changing Lives of American Women_ (1988)
Serving as president of the Modern Language Association (MLA) in 1995
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Heilbrun's notable works include:
Toward a Recognition of Androgyny (1973): A groundbreaking book that challenged traditional notions of masculinity and femininity.
The Education of a Woman: The Changing Lives of American Women (1988): A comprehensive study on the evolution of women's lives in America.
When Men Murder Women (1990): An exploration of violence against women, which sparked controversy and debate.
Impact and Legacy
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Carolyn Heilbrun's impact on academia and literature is multifaceted. Her work as a literary critic and scholar paved the way for feminist scholarship in the 1970s and 1980s. Her writing also shed light on issues like domestic violence, rape, and sexism.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Carolyn Heilbrun's influence extends beyond her academic contributions. She was a vocal advocate for social justice, particularly in the realm of women's rights. Her commitment to creating change has made her a respected figure in literary circles and beyond.
Throughout her life, Carolyn Heilbrun demonstrated an unwavering dedication to intellectual pursuits and social activism. Her legacy continues to inspire scholars, writers, and individuals striving for equality and understanding.
Quotes by Carolyn G. Heilbrun
One hires lawyers as on hires plumbers, because one wants to keep one’s hands off the beastly drains.
New York is not like London, a now-and-then place to many people. You can either not live in New York or not live anyplace else. One is either a lover or hater.
To continue what one had been doing – which was Dante’s idea of hell – is, I came to see, and the vision frightened me, easy in one’s sixties.
Odd, the years it took to learn one simple fact: that the prize just ahead, the next job, publication, love affair, marriage always seemed to hold the key to satisfaction but never, in the longer run, sufficed.
We women have lived too much with closure: “If he notices me, if I marry him, if I get into college, if I get this work accepted, if I get this job” – there always seems to loom the possibility of something being over, settled, sweeping clear the way for contentment. This is the delusion of a passive life. When the hope for closure is abandoned, when there is an end to fantasy, adventure for women will begin.
I don’t know why togetherness was ever held up as an ideal of marriage. Away from home for both, then together, that’s much better.
Life has this in common with prizefighting: if you’ve received a belly blow, it’s likely to be followed by a right to the jaw.
A literary academic can no more pass a bookstore than an alcoholic can pass a bar.