Hilma Wolitzer Explained

Hilma Wolitzer (born 1930) is an American novelist.^[1]

Career

Wolitzer's first novel for adults, Ending, was published in 1974. In his review of the novel, lead New York Times critic Anatole Broyard wrote, “After finishing Wolitzer’s book, I felt as if I had been on the brink of the abyss, pulled back by a last‐minute reprieve. My first impulse was to rush out and live, to grasp at existence as every instant of it was climactic . . . Apocalyptic as sounds, Ending made me feel I never wanted to take anything for granted again. If you have ever smelled death, really recognized it, life is a miracle. You can understand Marie Antoinette's saying, to the executioner, on the platform of the guillotine, ‘one more moment of happiness!’”^[2] Ending was the loose basis for Bob Fosse's 1979 film All That Jazz.^[3]

The recipient of Guggenheim and NEA fellowships and an Award in Literature from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters,^[4] Wolitzer wrote for the TV series Family.^[5]

Personal life

Wolitzer's daughter, Meg Wolitzer, is also a writer.^{[6] [7]}

Bibliography

Novels

• Ending (1974)^[8]
• In the Flesh (1977)^[9]
• Hearts (1980)^[10]
• In the Palomar Arms (1983)^[11]
• Silver (1988)^[12]
• Tunnel of Love (1994)^[13]
• The Doctor's Daughter (2006)^[14]
• Summer Reading (2007)^[15]
• An Available Man (2012)^[16]

YA fiction

• Introducing Shirley Braverman (1975)^[17]
• Out of Love (1976)^[18]
• Toby Lived Here (1980)^[19]
• Wish You Were Here (1984)^[20]

Non-fiction

• The Company of Writers (2001)

Short story collections

• Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket (2021)^{[21] [22] [23]}

External links

• Hilma Wolitzer at Fresh Fiction
• Anatole Broyard in the New York Times on “Ending”
• Hazlitt on “Ending” and “All That Jazz”

Notes and References

1. News: Housewife Hilma Wolitzer Writes About Suburban Life. Atlanta Constitution. O'Briant. Don. July 24, 1988. 10M. October 3, 2022. Newspapers.com.
2. News: Love on the Critical List. The New York Times. Broyard. Anatole. July 30, 1974. March 5, 2020.
3. News: When Bob Fosse's Art Imitates Life, It's Just 'All That Jazz'. The New York Times. Hodgson. Moira. December 30, 1979. March 5, 2020.
4. News: 'Great Middle-Aged Hope' to lead author talks. October 18, 2006. Palm Beach Daily News. Michele. Dargan. October 10, 2022. 1. Newspapers.com.
5. Web site: Hilma Wolitzer. IMDb. October 10, 2020.
6. News: Mother, daughter, author! author!. New York Daily News. Sherryl. Connelly. May 1, 1994. 13-City Lights. September 30, 2022. Newspapers.com.
7. Web site: Avenue . Next . 2021-10-22 . How Hilma Wolitzer Came Back From Covid Tragedy To Publish Her First Book In 8 Years—At The Age Of 91 . 2024-11-03 . Forbes.
8. News: A real love story. Boston Globe. Manning. Margaret. August 5, 1974. 9. September 30, 2022. Newspapers.com.
9. News: In the Flesh' May Be Better Than 'Ending'. Macon (Georgia) News. Yardley. Jonathan. November 6, 1977. 3F. September 30, 2022. Newspapers.com.
10. News: Feminine Odyssey to the American Heartland. Hartford Courant. Dinovelli. Donna. October 19, 1980. G8. September 30, 2022. Newspapers.com.
11. News: Colorful characters make novel shine. Pittsburgh Press. Frizzi. Ginny. September 4, 1983. 5 Family Magazine. September 30, 2022. Newspapers.com.
12. News: Novel skillfully depicts complexities of domestic life. Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Blonom. Julia Rushing. July 22, 1988. 4:1. September 30, 2022. Newspapers.com.
13. News: Growing Pains in L.A.. San Francisco Examiner. Mackey. Mary. June 12, 1994. 8-Review. October 7, 2022. Newspapers.com.
14. News: A writer welcomes back the words. Orlando Sentinel. New York Times News Service. Gross. Jane. May 26, 2006. C5. October 7, 2022. Newspapers.com.
15. News: Novel delves into readers themselves. Charlotte Observer. Posey. Nancy. July 13, 2007. 5E. October 10, 2022. Newspapers.com.
16. News: A widower re-enters the dating scene. Miami Herald. Lindbergh. Reeve. February 19, 2012. 5M. October 10, 2022. Newspapers.com.
17. News: Top Titles: From the Junior Department. Blue Island (Illinois) Sun-Standard. March 11, 1976. III-7. September 26, 2023. Newspapers.com.
18. News: New Fiction: Out of Love. Los Angeles Times. Riley. John. February 20, 1977. 4-Book Review. October 10, 2022. Newspapers.com.
19. News: Children's Books: For the Middle Group. Chicago Tribune. Sutherland. Zena. October 1, 1987. 7–15. October 10, 2022. Newspapers.com.
20. News: Bernie as Every Kid. San Francisco Examiner. Faust. Susan. December 9, 1984. 4-Review. October 5, 2022. Newspapers.com.
21. Web site: Today a Woman Went Mad in the Supermarket: Stories. BookMarks. Literary Hub. September 2, 2021. September 30, 2022.
22. Web site: Wolitzer . Meg . 2021-08-30 . When Covid struck the Wolitzers, Meg and Hilma bonded by creating a book. Let them tell you about it. . 2024-11-03 . Washington Post.
23. Web site: McAlpin . Heller . 2021-09-04 . In 'Today A Woman Went Mad In The Supermarket,' It's The Details That Really Get You . 2024-11-03 . NPR.