Cynthia Ozick: Short Stories, Novels, and Essays — Including About Jewish-American Life
Ozick’s fiction and essays are often about Jewish-American life, but she also writes about…
Simon Schama: Historian and Author of ‘The Story of the Jews,’ Among Other Highly Praised Books
Sir Simon Michael Schama (77) is a British historian specializing in art history, Dutch history, Jewish history, and French history. He is a University Professor of History and Art History at Columbia University. In the United Kingdom, he is perhaps best known for writing and hosting the 15-part BBC documentary series A History of Britain.…
Wendy Wasserstein: Award-Winning Writer of 11 Plays, Including ‘The Heidi Chronicles’
Wendy Wasserstein (Oct. 18, 1950 – Jan. 30, 2006) was an acclaimed playwright who received the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1989 for The Heidi Chronicles. Her other plays include the following: The Sisters Rosensweig, Isn’t It Romantic, An American Daughter, Old Money, and Third. Wasserstein died from…
Julius Lester: Renowned Jewish African-American Writer of Children’s and Adult Books
Julius Lester (Jan. 27, 1939 – Jan. 18, 2018) was an author of books for both children and adults. In addition to teaching at the University of Massachusetts Amherst for 32 years, he was a civil rights activist, photographer, and musician who recorded two albums of folk music and original songs. In 1982, Lester —…
Lev Raphael: Author of More Than 20 Books, Including Works on Jewish Themes
Lev Raphael is a prolific author who has penned more than 20 books, including Stick up for Yourself, Coming Out of Shame, The Death of a Constant Lover, Dancing on Tisha B’av, My Germany, Little Miss Evil, Burning Down the House, Tropic of Murder, Assault with a Deadly Lie, and Criminal Kabbalah. A number of…
Walter Mosley: Winner of Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters
Walter Ellis Mosley (68) is a Jewish African-American writer (Jewish mother, non-Jewish father) who recently was awarded the prestigious National Book Foundation Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. He is the first Black man to receive the honor (although not the first Jew). Mainly known for writing best-selling crime novels, Mosley is the author…
Tony Schwartz: Trump Critic and Remorseful Ghostwriter of ‘Trump: The Art of the Deal’
Tony Schwartz (68) is famously known — or infamously known, depending on one’s point of view — for being the ghostwriter of the bestselling book Trump: The Art of the Deal. He says he has regretted his participation in the project for decades. Other books penned by Schwartz include What Really Matters: Searching for Wisdom…
William Goldman: Novelist, Playwright, and Two-Time Oscar-Winning Screenwriter
William Goldman (Aug. 12, 1931 – Nov. 16, 2018) was an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He won Academy Awards for his screenplays Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and All the President’s Men (1976). His other works include his thriller novel Marathon Man and his cult classic comedy/fantasy novel The Princess Bride, both…
Ron Chernow: Author of ‘Alexander Hamilton,’ Basis for the Hit Musical
Previously, we featured Ron Chernow, 71, in the Spotlight section of this website after he was the main speaker at the 2018 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Now we feature him again in recognition of his writing Alexander Hamilton, the 2004 biography of one of America’s most notable Founding Fathers. Chernow’s book later became the inspiration…
David Litt: Bestselling Author and Former White House Speechwriter
David Litt was a speechwriter for President Barack Obama; he specialized in writing funny lines to be delivered by the president. (He began working in the White House at the age of 24.) His first book, comedic memoir Thanks, Obama: My Hopey, Changey White House Years, was a New York Times bestseller. His new book,…
To learn about these and many more AmazingJews, watch a compilation put together by JewOfTheWeek.net in 2015 and posted on YouTube.