Judith Rossner
Encyclopedia
Judith Perelman Rossner (March 31, 1935 – August 9, 2005) was an American
novelist, best known for her 1975 novel Looking for Mr. Goodbar
, which was inspired by the murder of Roseann Quinn
and examined the underside of the seventies sexual liberation movement. Though Looking for Mr. Goodbar remained Rossner's best known and best selling work, she continued to write. Her most successful post-Goodbar novel was 1983's August
, about the relationship between a troubled young woman and her psychoanalyst who has emotional troubles of her own.
She dropped out of the City College of New York (now the City University of New York
) to marry Robert Rossner, a teacher and writer best known as a mystery novelist under the pen name Ivan T. Ross. The couple had two children, Daniel and Jean, and later divorced. Judith Rossner married twice more. She had no other children.
Judith Rossner did secretarial work in a real estate business to support herself. She also wrote short stories and unsuccessfully tried to sell them to women's magazines.
Rossner wrote her first novel, published years later as To The Precipice in 1966. Her initial books were not successful. Soon after leaving her first husband, she wrote Any Minute I Can Split (1972), about a pregnant woman who runs away to a commune. Esquire
magazine asked Rossner to write a story. She suggested the real-life story of Roseann Quinn
, a young schoolteacher who was brutally murdered by a man she reportedly met at a singles club. She wrote the story but said Esquire lawyers killed the article because they felt the story would affect the pending trial. Rossner then decided to write the novelized version, Looking for Mr. Goodbar
.
The book brought her fame and wealth, allowing the forty-year-old to quit her day job and focus full time on writing. In 1977, Rossner published Attachments, a story about a pair of friends who marry conjoined twins. Attachments was followed by Emmeline
, the story of a fourteen-year-old farm girl who gets a factory job to support her impoverished family. August
, her most successful novel following 'Mr. Goodbar', was published in 1983 to critical acclaim. "Goodbar" became a successful, if controversial, Hollywood film in 1977 with Diane Keaton, William Atherton, Tuesday Weld, Richard Kiley and Richard Gere. The film was directed by noted director Richard Brooks, whose marriage to the actress Jean Simmons was said to have come unraveled in part due to his obsession with the themes of the film's story and characters.
Rossner became seriously ill with viral meningitis after August's publication. She consequently lost much of her memory and contracted diabetes. Rossner did not write for many years. She published His Little Women
in 1990 to universal bad reviews. Olivia (1994) followed. Rossner published her last novel, Perfidia, in 1997.
Rossner died on August 9, 2005 at the age of seventy. She was survived by her third husband, Stanley Leff, her two children, and three grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist, best known for her 1975 novel Looking for Mr. Goodbar
Looking for Mr. Goodbar
Looking for Mr. Goodbar is a 1975 novel by Judith Rossner. Rossner based the novel on the events surrounding the brutal murder of Roseann Quinn, a 28-year-old New York City schoolteacher in 1973.-References:...
, which was inspired by the murder of Roseann Quinn
Roseann Quinn
Roseann Quinn was an American schoolteacher whose murder inspired Judith Rossner's 1975 novelLooking for Mr. Goodbar, as well as its 1977 film adaptation directed by Richard Brooks...
and examined the underside of the seventies sexual liberation movement. Though Looking for Mr. Goodbar remained Rossner's best known and best selling work, she continued to write. Her most successful post-Goodbar novel was 1983's August
August (1983 Novel)
August, is a novel written by Judith Rossner focused on a psychoanalyst and one of her analysands.- Plot introduction :The novel focuses on the relationship between a psychoanalyst, Dr...
, about the relationship between a troubled young woman and her psychoanalyst who has emotional troubles of her own.
Life
Judith Perelman was born on March 31, 1935 in New York City. The daughter of a schoolteacher (who later killed herself) and an alcoholic textile worker, Perelman was raised in the Bronx and attended public schools.She dropped out of the City College of New York (now the City University of New York
City University of New York
The City University of New York is the public university system of New York City, with its administrative offices in Yorkville in Manhattan. It is the largest urban university in the United States, consisting of 23 institutions: 11 senior colleges, six community colleges, the William E...
) to marry Robert Rossner, a teacher and writer best known as a mystery novelist under the pen name Ivan T. Ross. The couple had two children, Daniel and Jean, and later divorced. Judith Rossner married twice more. She had no other children.
Judith Rossner did secretarial work in a real estate business to support herself. She also wrote short stories and unsuccessfully tried to sell them to women's magazines.
Rossner wrote her first novel, published years later as To The Precipice in 1966. Her initial books were not successful. Soon after leaving her first husband, she wrote Any Minute I Can Split (1972), about a pregnant woman who runs away to a commune. Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
magazine asked Rossner to write a story. She suggested the real-life story of Roseann Quinn
Roseann Quinn
Roseann Quinn was an American schoolteacher whose murder inspired Judith Rossner's 1975 novelLooking for Mr. Goodbar, as well as its 1977 film adaptation directed by Richard Brooks...
, a young schoolteacher who was brutally murdered by a man she reportedly met at a singles club. She wrote the story but said Esquire lawyers killed the article because they felt the story would affect the pending trial. Rossner then decided to write the novelized version, Looking for Mr. Goodbar
Looking for Mr. Goodbar
Looking for Mr. Goodbar is a 1975 novel by Judith Rossner. Rossner based the novel on the events surrounding the brutal murder of Roseann Quinn, a 28-year-old New York City schoolteacher in 1973.-References:...
.
The book brought her fame and wealth, allowing the forty-year-old to quit her day job and focus full time on writing. In 1977, Rossner published Attachments, a story about a pair of friends who marry conjoined twins. Attachments was followed by Emmeline
Emmeline (book)
Emmeline is a book by Judith Rossner. Published in 1980, Emmeline details the local legend of a woman who becomes ostracized by everyone in her hometown in Maine after a shocking long-held secret becomes public. The story is a fictionalized account of the life of Emeline Bachelder Gurney. Both...
, the story of a fourteen-year-old farm girl who gets a factory job to support her impoverished family. August
August (1983 Novel)
August, is a novel written by Judith Rossner focused on a psychoanalyst and one of her analysands.- Plot introduction :The novel focuses on the relationship between a psychoanalyst, Dr...
, her most successful novel following 'Mr. Goodbar', was published in 1983 to critical acclaim. "Goodbar" became a successful, if controversial, Hollywood film in 1977 with Diane Keaton, William Atherton, Tuesday Weld, Richard Kiley and Richard Gere. The film was directed by noted director Richard Brooks, whose marriage to the actress Jean Simmons was said to have come unraveled in part due to his obsession with the themes of the film's story and characters.
Rossner became seriously ill with viral meningitis after August's publication. She consequently lost much of her memory and contracted diabetes. Rossner did not write for many years. She published His Little Women
His Little Women
His Little Women is a novel written by Judith Rossner. Published in 1990, His Little Women was the first book that Rossner published after her critically acclaimed novel, August.-Plot:...
in 1990 to universal bad reviews. Olivia (1994) followed. Rossner published her last novel, Perfidia, in 1997.
Rossner died on August 9, 2005 at the age of seventy. She was survived by her third husband, Stanley Leff, her two children, and three grandchildren.
List of works
- To the Precipice (1966)
- Nine Months in the Life of an Old MaidNine Months in the Life of an Old MaidNine Months In The Life Of An Old Maid, published in 1969, is the second novel of Judith Rossner. Divided in two parts, the book details the complicated relationship that two sisters have with each other and the other members of their eccentric family.-Plot:...
(1969) - Any Minute I Can Split (1972)
- Looking for Mr. GoodbarLooking for Mr. GoodbarLooking for Mr. Goodbar is a 1975 novel by Judith Rossner. Rossner based the novel on the events surrounding the brutal murder of Roseann Quinn, a 28-year-old New York City schoolteacher in 1973.-References:...
(1975) - Attachments (1977)
- EmmelineEmmeline (book)Emmeline is a book by Judith Rossner. Published in 1980, Emmeline details the local legend of a woman who becomes ostracized by everyone in her hometown in Maine after a shocking long-held secret becomes public. The story is a fictionalized account of the life of Emeline Bachelder Gurney. Both...
(1980) - August (1983)
- His Little WomenHis Little WomenHis Little Women is a novel written by Judith Rossner. Published in 1990, His Little Women was the first book that Rossner published after her critically acclaimed novel, August.-Plot:...
(1990) - Olivia (1994)
- Perfidia (1997)
Further reading
- Bernstein, Adam (August 11, 2005). Judith Rossner, 70; 'Mr. Goodbar' Author. Washington Post
- Martin, Douglas (August 11, 2005). Judith Rossner, 70, Author of 'Looking for Mr. Goodbar.' New York Times