Summary
Robert R. Kirsch[1] (October 18, 1922 – August 16, 1980) was an American literary critic and author. He was the literary editor of The Los Angeles Times for more than two decades.
Robert R. Kirsch | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 18, 1922 |
| Died | August 16, 1980 (aged 57) |
| Occupation(s) | Literary critic, author |
| Employer | The Los Angeles Times |
Early life edit
Robert R. Kirsch[1] was born on October 18, 1922, on Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York City.[2][3] He moved out of Coney Island at the age of 17.[2][3] He had two sons, Paul Kirsch, and Jonathan Kirsch, who is a renowned lawyer. He also later had a daughter named Maria Kirsch in his second marriage.
Career edit
Kirsch joined The Los Angeles Times, where he was the literary editor for 23 years.[2][3] Over the course of his career, he wrote "thousands of columns, book reviews, and essays."[1] He was one of the first critics to praise the works of Joseph Wambaugh and Tom Sanchez.[2][3]
Kirsch authored several books about California and Las Vegas.[1] He used the pennames of Robert Dundee and Robert Bancroft.[1]
Death and legacy edit
Kirsch died of cancer on August 16, 1980, in Santa Barbara, California.[2][3] A public funeral was held in the chapel of the American Jewish University in Bel Air.[2] He is the namesake of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize's Robert Kirsch Award for Lifetime Achievement.
Selected works edit
- In the Wrong Rain (1959)
- Madeleine Austrian (1960)
- The Wars of Pardon (1965)
- West of the West: Witnesses to the California Experience, 1542-1906; The Story of California from the Conquistadores to the Great Earthquake (1967)
- Lives, Works, & Transformations: A Quarter Century of Book Reviews and Essays (1978)
- Casino: A Novel of Las Vegas (1979)
References edit
- ^ a b c d e "Guide to the Robert R. Kirsch Collection". Online Archive of California. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Thackrey, Ted Jr. (August 17, 1980). "Robert Kirsch, Times Literary Editor for 23 Years, Dies in Santa Barbara". The Los Angeles Times. p. 43. Retrieved June 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Robert Kirsch, 57; Literary Editor for L.A. Times". The Star Press. Muncie, Indiana. August 18, 1980. p. 7. Retrieved June 5, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
External links edit
- Kirsch, Robert R., 1922-1980 - SNAC