Joseph Jay Deiss
Encyclopedia
Joseph Jay Deiss an American author, businessman, historian and archaeologist was born in Twin Falls, Idaho and graduated from the University of Texas, where he also received his Masters.
mentioned by Henry David Thoreau
in "Cape Cod Sketches".
Prior to his first novel, he worked in Washington, DC in Farm Tenancy under the New Deal
. As a partner in the Medical Pharmaceutical and Information Bureau, Deiss expanded his career into "industrial public relations" with clients in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically Pfizer
. As a result of his continuing interest in writing and in the history of Italy, he decided to give up his business partnership, and devote full time to his writing, which resulted in his second novel, The Blue Chips, a novel about big business medicine.
In 1957 Deiss, living in Positano
, Italy began in depth research at museums and academic institutions in Germany, Austria, and Italy that led to his third work, a biographical novel
, The Great Infidel about Frederic the Second, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Sicily. While Deiss was involved in his biographical novel of Frederic the Second, he was drawn to the ancient monument cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii, spending time there since they were near his home in Positano. On becoming Vice Director of the American Academy in Rome, he actively started exploring these ancient cities. Out of this effort he wrote, Herculaneum, Italy's Buried Treasure. This was followed by Captains of Fortune, which consisted of profiles of six famous Italian Condottierri (soldiers of fortune) from the medieval period to the renaissance. The eclectic interests of Deiss in historical Italy finally led to his The Roman Years of Margaret Fuller
.http://www.ohiou.edu/~chastain/dh/fuller.htm
In 1971 for his historical work relating to Italy, he was Knighted by that government. In his later years, Deiss devoted his time between Cape Cod and his home in Gainesville, Florida Gainesville.Florida, where he was an adjunct professor in the Classics Department of the University of Florida
. Joseph Jay Deiss died on April 10, 1999. He was predeceased by his wife, Catherene, son John Casey ("Casey") http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfBmeOZixM8, and is survived by his daughter, Susanna and grandchildren.
Life and work
By location, he had three loves, Cape Cod, Italy, and Florida. With the proceeds from his first successful novel, Washington Story, he purchased the "Oysterman's Cottage" at Wellfleet, MassachusettsWellfleet, Massachusetts
Wellfleet is a New England town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Located halfway between the "tip" and "elbow" of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the town had a population of 2,749 at the 2000 census, which swells nearly sixfold during the summer...
mentioned by Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau was an American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, historian, and leading transcendentalist...
in "Cape Cod Sketches".
Prior to his first novel, he worked in Washington, DC in Farm Tenancy under the New Deal
New Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
. As a partner in the Medical Pharmaceutical and Information Bureau, Deiss expanded his career into "industrial public relations" with clients in the pharmaceutical industry, specifically Pfizer
Pfizer
Pfizer, Inc. is an American multinational pharmaceutical corporation. The company is based in New York City, New York with its research headquarters in Groton, Connecticut, United States...
. As a result of his continuing interest in writing and in the history of Italy, he decided to give up his business partnership, and devote full time to his writing, which resulted in his second novel, The Blue Chips, a novel about big business medicine.
In 1957 Deiss, living in Positano
Positano
Positano is a village and comune on the Amalfi Coast , in Campania, Italy. The main part of the city sits in an enclave in the hills leading down to the coast.-History:...
, Italy began in depth research at museums and academic institutions in Germany, Austria, and Italy that led to his third work, a biographical novel
Biographical novel
The biographical novel is a genre of novel which provides a fictional and usually entertaining account of a person's life. This kind of novel concentrates on the experiences a person had during his lifetime, the people he met and the incidents which occurred are detailed and sometimes...
, The Great Infidel about Frederic the Second, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Sicily. While Deiss was involved in his biographical novel of Frederic the Second, he was drawn to the ancient monument cities of Herculaneum and Pompeii, spending time there since they were near his home in Positano. On becoming Vice Director of the American Academy in Rome, he actively started exploring these ancient cities. Out of this effort he wrote, Herculaneum, Italy's Buried Treasure. This was followed by Captains of Fortune, which consisted of profiles of six famous Italian Condottierri (soldiers of fortune) from the medieval period to the renaissance. The eclectic interests of Deiss in historical Italy finally led to his The Roman Years of Margaret Fuller
Margaret Fuller
Sarah Margaret Fuller Ossoli, commonly known as Margaret Fuller, was an American journalist, critic, and women's rights advocate associated with the American transcendentalism movement. She was the first full-time American female book reviewer in journalism...
.http://www.ohiou.edu/~chastain/dh/fuller.htm
In 1971 for his historical work relating to Italy, he was Knighted by that government. In his later years, Deiss devoted his time between Cape Cod and his home in Gainesville, Florida Gainesville.Florida, where he was an adjunct professor in the Classics Department of the University of Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
. Joseph Jay Deiss died on April 10, 1999. He was predeceased by his wife, Catherene, son John Casey ("Casey") http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfBmeOZixM8, and is survived by his daughter, Susanna and grandchildren.
Selected list of works
- A Washington Story by Jay Deiss, Duell, Sloan and Pearce, New York, 1950.
- The Blue Chips by Jay Deiss, Simon and Schuster, New York, 1957.
- The Great Infidel by Joseph Jay Deiss, Random House, New York, 1963.
- Herculaneum Italy's Buried Treasure by Joseph Jay Deiss, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York 1966.
- Captains of Fortune, Profiles of Six Italian Condottieri by Joseph Jay Deiss, Victor Gollancz Ltd., London, 1966.
- The Roman Years of Margaret Fuller by Joseph Jay Deiss, Thomas Y. Crowell Company, New York, 1969.