Erica Jong

Early Life

Erica Jong was born Erica Mann on March 26, 1942, in Manhattan, New York. She grew up in a creative household as one of three daughters of Seymour Mann, a businessman of Polish-Jewish descent, and Eda Mirsky, a painter and textile designer. Jong attended the High School of Music & Art in Harlem, where she nurtured her passion for art and writing. She later graduated from Barnard College in 1963 and earned her MA in 18th-century English Literature from Columbia University in 1965, where she wrote her thesis on the representations of women in Alexander Pope's poetry.

Career

Jong is best known for her groundbreaking 1973 novel, "Fear of Flying," which candidly explored female sexuality and became a cultural touchstone of the feminist movement. The book's protagonist, Isadora Wing, embarks on a journey of self-discovery, reflecting the conflicts faced by women in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The novel's success led to the publication of two sequels, "How to Save Your Own Life" (1977) and "Parachutes and Kisses" (1984). Throughout her career, Jong has received numerous accolades, including the Fernanda Pivano Award for American Literature and the Sigmund Freud Award for Literature.

Personal Life

Jong's personal life has been as dynamic as her literary career. After two marriages ended in divorce, she married novelist Jonathan Fast in 1977, with whom she had a daughter, Molly Jong-Fast. Jong has lived in various places, including an army base in West Germany and an apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side. She has been a vocal advocate for same-sex marriage and has been referenced in popular culture, including a mention in Bob Dylan's song "Highlands." Jong's literary archive was acquired by Columbia University in 2007, solidifying her legacy as a significant figure in American literature.