Erica Jong

Erica Mann was born in Manhattan, New York, on March 26, 1942. Her father, Seymour Mann, owned a gifts and home accessories company known for porcelain dolls, while her mother, Eda Mirsky, was a painter and textile designer. Erica attended the High School of Music & Art, fostering her interest in art and writing. She pursued higher education at Barnard College, where she edited the ‘Barnard Literary Magazine’ and created poetry programs for WKCR, Columbia University’s radio station. In 1963, she earned her BA from Barnard College, followed by an MA in 18th-century English Literature from Columbia University in 1965. Her master’s thesis focused on the representations of women in Alexander Pope’s poetry.

Her career began with significant literary contributions, notably her first novel, “Fear of Flying,” published in 1973. This book garnered widespread attention for its frank discussion of female sexuality through the character of Isadora Wing, a woman exploring her identity and desires. The novel integrated psychological and humorous elements, alongside rich cultural and literary references, and candid depictions of sex. It addressed emerging conflicts for women in late 1960s and early 1970s America, concerning womanhood, femininity, sex, relationships, and the pursuit of freedom and purpose.

“Fear of Flying” achieved considerable commercial success, selling over 20 million copies worldwide by 2013, and exceeding 37 million by 2022. Jong continued Isadora Wing’s story in subsequent novels, “How to Save Your Own Life” (1977) and “Parachutes and Kisses” (1984). Her work has been recognized with awards such as Poetry Magazine’s Bess Hokin Prize (1971), the Sigmund Freud Award For Literature (1975), and the United Nations Award For Excellence In Literature (1998). Her literary archive was acquired by Columbia University in 2007, solidifying her place in literary history.