Robert Nathan
Encyclopedia
Robert Gruntal Nathan was an American
novelist and poet.
family. He was educated in the United States and Switzerland and attended Harvard University
for several years beginning in 1912. It was there that he began writing short fiction and poetry. However, he never graduated, choosing instead to drop out and take a job at an advertising firm to support his family (he married while a junior at Harvard). It was while working in 1919 that he wrote his first novel—the semi-autobiographical work Peter Kindred—which was a critical failure. But his luck soon changed during the 1920s, when he wrote seven more novels, including The Bishop's Wife, which was later made into a successful film
starring Cary Grant
, David Niven
, and Loretta Young
.
During the 1930s, his success continued with more works, including fictional pieces and poetry. In 1940, he wrote his most successful book, Portrait of Jennie, about a Depression
-era artist and the woman he is painting, who is slipping through time. Portrait of Jennie is considered a modern masterpiece of fantasy fiction and was made into a film
, starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten
.
In January 1956 the author wrote, as well as narrated, an episode of the CBS Radio Workshop, called "A Pride of Carrots or Venus Well-Served."
Nathan's seventh wife was the British actress Anna Lee
, to whom he was married from 1970 until his death. He came from a talented family — the activist Maud Nathan
and author Annie Nathan Meyer
were his aunts, and the poet Emma Lazarus
and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo his cousins.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist and poet.
Biography
Nathan was born into a prominent New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
family. He was educated in the United States and Switzerland and attended Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
for several years beginning in 1912. It was there that he began writing short fiction and poetry. However, he never graduated, choosing instead to drop out and take a job at an advertising firm to support his family (he married while a junior at Harvard). It was while working in 1919 that he wrote his first novel—the semi-autobiographical work Peter Kindred—which was a critical failure. But his luck soon changed during the 1920s, when he wrote seven more novels, including The Bishop's Wife, which was later made into a successful film
The Bishop's Wife
The Bishop's Wife is a 1947 Samuel Goldwyn romantic comedy feature film starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven in a story about an angel who helps a bishop with his problems. It was released by RKO. The film was adapted by Leonardo Bercovici and Robert E...
starring Cary Grant
Cary Grant
Archibald Alexander Leach , better known by his stage name Cary Grant, was an English actor who later took U.S. citizenship...
, David Niven
David Niven
James David Graham Niven , known as David Niven, was a British actor and novelist, best known for his roles as Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days and Sir Charles Lytton, a.k.a. "the Phantom", in The Pink Panther...
, and Loretta Young
Loretta Young
Loretta Young was an American actress. Starting as a child actress, she had a long and varied career in film from 1917 to 1953...
.
During the 1930s, his success continued with more works, including fictional pieces and poetry. In 1940, he wrote his most successful book, Portrait of Jennie, about a Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
-era artist and the woman he is painting, who is slipping through time. Portrait of Jennie is considered a modern masterpiece of fantasy fiction and was made into a film
Portrait of Jennie
Portrait of Jennie is a 1948 fantasy film based on the novella by Robert Nathan. The film was directed by William Dieterle and produced by David O. Selznick. It stars Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten.-Plot:...
, starring Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten
Joseph Cotten
Joseph Cheshire Cotten was an American actor of stage and film. Cotten achieved prominence on Broadway, starring in the original productions of The Philadelphia Story and Sabrina Fair...
.
In January 1956 the author wrote, as well as narrated, an episode of the CBS Radio Workshop, called "A Pride of Carrots or Venus Well-Served."
Nathan's seventh wife was the British actress Anna Lee
Anna Lee
Anna Lee, MBE was an English actress.-Career:Lee studied at the Royal Albert Hall, then debuted with a bit part in the film His Lordship...
, to whom he was married from 1970 until his death. He came from a talented family — the activist Maud Nathan
Maud Nathan
250px|thumb|Maud Nathan at the 1913 International Woman's Suffrage Conference, BudapestMaud Nathan was an American social worker, labor activist and suffragist for women's right to vote....
and author Annie Nathan Meyer
Annie Nathan Meyer
Annie Nathan Meyer was an American author and promoter of the higher education of women. Her sister was the activist Maud Nathan and her nephew the author and poet Robert Nathan.-Life and career:...
were his aunts, and the poet Emma Lazarus
Emma Lazarus
Lazarus began to be more interested in her Jewish ancestry after reading the George Eliot novel, Daniel Deronda, and as she heard of the Russian pogroms in the early 1880s. This led Lazarus to write articles on the subject. She also began translating the works of Jewish poets into English...
and Supreme Court Justice Benjamin Cardozo his cousins.
Novels
- Peter Kindred, 1919
- Autumn, 1921
- The Puppet Master, 1923
- Jonah, 1925
- The Fiddler in Barly, 1926
- The Woodcutter's House, 1927
- The Bishop's Wife, 1928 (filmed in 1947The Bishop's WifeThe Bishop's Wife is a 1947 Samuel Goldwyn romantic comedy feature film starring Cary Grant, Loretta Young, and David Niven in a story about an angel who helps a bishop with his problems. It was released by RKO. The film was adapted by Leonardo Bercovici and Robert E...
) - There Is Another Heaven, 1929
- The Orchid, 1931
- One More Spring, 1933 (filmed in 1935One More SpringOne More Spring is a 1935 film about three people living together in the maintenance shed at Central Park as an alternative to living on the streets. The film was written by Edwin J...
) - Road of Ages, 1935
- The Enchanted Voyage, 1936 (filmed in 1946Wake Up and Dream (film)Wake Up and Dream is a Technicolor film unrelated to the 1930s musical of the same name. It was directed by Lloyd Bacon and written by Elick Moll based on the novel by Robert Nathan...
) - Winter in April, 1938
- Portrait of Jennie, 1940 (filmed in 1948Portrait of JenniePortrait of Jennie is a 1948 fantasy film based on the novella by Robert Nathan. The film was directed by William Dieterle and produced by David O. Selznick. It stars Jennifer Jones and Joseph Cotten.-Plot:...
) - They Went On Together, 1941
- The Sea-Gull Cry, 1942
- But Gently Day, 1943
- Mr. Whittle and the Morning Star, 1947
- Long After Summer, 1948 (televised on The Alcoa HourThe Alcoa HourThe Alcoa Hour is a live anthology television series sponsored by Alcoa and telecast in the United States from 1955 to 1957. The series was seen Sundays on NBC at 9pm.-Overview:...
in 1956) - The River Journey, 1949
- The Married Look, 1950
- The Innocent Eve, 1951
- The Train in the Meadow, 1953
- Sir Henry, 1955
- The Rancho of the Little Loves, 1956
- So Love Returns, 1958
- The Color of the Evening, 1960
- The Weans, 1960,
- The Wilderness-Stone, 1961
- A Star in the Wind, 1962
- The Devil with Love, 1963
- The Fair, 1964
- The Mallott Diaries, 1965
- Stonecliff, 1967
- Mia, 1970
- The Elixir, 1971
- The Summer Meadows, 1973
- Heaven and Hell and the Megas Factor, 1975
Novel collections
- The Barly Fields, 1938 (collection containing The Fiddler in Barly, The Woodcutter's House, The Bishop's Wife, The Orchid, and There Is Another Heaven)
Plays
- Jezebel’s Husband & The Sleeping Beauty, 1953 (collection of two plays)
- Juliet in Mantua, 1966
Children's books
- Journey of Tapiola, 1938
- Tapiola's Brave Regiment, 1941
- The Adventures of Tapiola, 1950 (collection containing Journey of Tapiola and Tapiola's Brave Regiment)
- The Snowflake and the Starfish, 1959
- Tappy, 1968
Screenplays
- The White Cliffs of DoverThe White Cliffs of Dover (1944 film)The White Cliffs of Dover is a 1944 film made by Loew's and MGM. It was directed by Clarence Brown and produced by Clarence Brown and Sidney Franklin. The screenplay was by Claudine West, Jan Lustig and George Froeschel, based on the Alice Duer Miller poem titled The White Cliffs with additional...
, 1944 (additional poetry) - The ClockThe Clock (film)The Clock is a 1945 film starring Judy Garland and Robert Walker and directed by Garland's future husband, Vincente Minnelli. This was Garland's first dramatic role as well as her first starring vehicle in which she did not sing.-Plot:...
, 1945 - Pagan Love Song, 1950
Poetry
- Youth Grows Old, 1922
- A Cedar Box, 1929
- Selected Poems, 1935
- A Winter Tide: Sonnets and Poems, 1940
- Dunkirk: A Ballad, 1942
- Morning in Iowa, 1944
- The Darkening Meadows, 1945
- The Green Leaf, 1950
- The Married Man, 1962
- Evening Song: Selected Poems 1950-1973, 1973
Miscellaneous
- Two Robert Nathan Pieces, 1950 (book containing an interview with Mr. Nathan by Harvey Breit and the poem: Advice To My Son)
- "Robert Nathan Reading His Poems with Comment at His Home in Los Angeles, Calif., in April 1962", 1962 (tape reel sound recording)
External links
- Robert Nathan website
- A Pride of Carrots (Venus Well Served) MP3 file at the "CBS Radio Workshop" section of Internet Archive