This is a list that I compiled this evening of writers, critics and others involved in the publishing world who passed away in 2007. Sadly, it is probably far from complete so if you know of any I've missed pleased mention them in your comments so that I can add them to the list. Thanks.
January:
Robert Anton Wilson, 74 - co-author of "The Illuminatus Trilogy"
Art Buchwald, 81 - author and humorist
Sidney Sheldon, 89 - author
Molly Ivins, 62 - political writer and humorist
Peter Tompkins, 87 - author of "The Secret Life of Plants"
Barbara Seranella - mystery writer
February:
Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr., 89 - historian
Marianne Fredriksson, 79 - much-admired Swedish author
Lothar-Guenther Buchheim, 89 - German author of "Das Boot"
March:
Henri Troyat, 95 - prolific French author
Robert E. Petersen, 80 - magazine publisher
Michael Dibdin, 60 - author most famous for his "Aurelio Zen" mysteries
April:
Kurt Vonnegut, 84 - author
David Halberstam, 73 - historian and journalist famous for baseball writing
May:
Lloyd Alexander, 83 - author of children's books
Mark Harris, 84 - most famous for his baseball books like "Bang the Drum Slowly"
June:
William Meredith, 88 - prize-winning poet
Richard Rorty - American philosopher
Nazek al-Malaika, 85 - Iraqi poet
Fred T. Saberhagen, 77 - science fiction author
July:
Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, 68 - writer of historical romances
John Graham, 80 - author of children's books
August:
Grace Paley, 84 - short story writer and poet
Edward Seidensticker, 86 - translator of Japanese literature
September:
Madeleine L'Engle, 88 - author most famous for "A Wrinkle in Time"
Robert Jordan, 58 - fantasy author
October:
Peg Bracken, 89 - author of the "I Hate to Cook Book"
November:
Norman Mailer, 84 - author and celebrity
Ira Levin, 78 - author most famous for "Rosemary's Baby"
December:
Elizabeth Hardwick, 91 - author and critic, co-founder of The New York Review of Books
I always get teary-eyed when I read lists like this. At least they leave a legacy of their work behind among other things.
ReplyDeletewow--thanks--
ReplyDeleteWow, this was a bad sad year.
ReplyDeleteVery sad indeed. I didn't realize Ira Levin died. I read "Rosemary's Baby" in October. Excellent and very scary book with little to no gore.
ReplyDeleteFeline, I envy people like these who leave tracks behind when they go. We should all be so lucky.
ReplyDeleteIt's quite a long list this year, isn't it, Annie? It reminds me of the list of country singers that we've lost in the last couple of years, this year being no exception.
ReplyDeleteA sad year, indeed, Carrie. But so many of them had long, complete lifetimes and careers that we should be grateful that they contributed for so long.
ReplyDelete"Rosemary's Baby" is a classic of its type, ex libris, I agree. Even the movie is one of the most memorable I've ever seen...no gore, no blood, but scary as hell.
ReplyDeleteBarbara Seranella, a wonderful mystery writer, and a marvelous woman, passed away in January 2007.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janet. I've added her name to the list.
ReplyDelete