Richard G. Stern, American author and academic (d. 2013)

Richard Gustave Stern (February 25, 1928 – January 24, 2013) stands as a significant figure in American letters, known for his incisive novels, compelling short stories, and a long, distinguished career as an educator. Though perhaps best characterized by the self-deprecating tag "the best American author of whom you have never heard," his influence as both a writer and a mentor to generations of students at the University of Chicago remains profound.

Early Life and Formative Education

Born into the vibrant energy of New York City on February 25, 1928, Richard Stern's intellectual journey began early. His academic prowess quickly became evident during his time at the University of North Carolina, where he graduated in 1947 with top honors, earning both Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude distinctions. After gaining some initial professional experience through a year of work in Indiana, Florida, and back in New York City, he continued his academic pursuits at Harvard University. There, he delved deeper into the world of literature, securing an MA in English Literature, laying a robust foundation for his future literary and academic endeavors.

A Distinguished Academic Career

Stern’s commitment to education and intellectual exchange quickly took him across continents. In 1949, he served as a Fulbright Scholar in Versailles, France, immersing himself in European culture and scholarship. His teaching journey continued from 1950 to 1951 as an assistant professor at Heidelberg University. The early 1950s also saw him as a key member of the prestigious Iowa Writer's Workshop from 1952 to 1954, an experience that culminated in him receiving his PhD from the University of Iowa in 1954. Following a year of teaching at Connecticut College in New London, he found his academic home at the University of Chicago, joining its faculty in 1955. This institution would become central to his life, where he taught continuously until 2002, eventually retiring in 2004 as the esteemed Helen A Regenstein Professor of English and American Literature, leaving an indelible mark on its English department.

The "Chicago Review" Controversy: A Clash of Ideologies

During his long tenure at the University of Chicago, Richard Stern found himself at the heart of a significant literary and academic debate concerning the "beat edition" of the *Chicago Review* in the winter of 1958. The *Chicago Review*, a respected student/faculty literary publication of the university, had planned to feature excerpts from William S. Burroughs' controversial novel *Naked Lunch* alongside stories by Jack Kerouac. The editor at the time, Irving Rosenthal, alleged that Stern, along with fellow faculty member Joshua Taylor, sought to suppress this particular issue, with Rosenthal suggesting Stern was "so quick to protect the administration." This incident highlights the fervent intellectual climate of the late 1950s, a period marked by the rise of the Beat Generation and its challenge to conventional literary and social norms, often encountering resistance and accusations of obscenity. For more detailed accounts of this case of censorship, sources like Matt Theado's *The Beats, A Literary Reference* (pp. 103-105) provide valuable insight.

However, Stern offered a different perspective on this "so-called suppression" in his essay "How I Think I Got to Think the Way I Think," later reprinted in his "orderly miscellany," *Still on Call*. He recounted a successful effort not only to safeguard the *Review* itself—as the University President, Lawrence A. Kimpton, had contemplated ceasing its funding—but also to ensure that subsequent issues continued to publish the accepted "beat" works, including pieces from *Naked Lunch*. Following the controversy, Rosenthal and Paul Carroll, who had co-edited the *Review*, went on to found *Big Table*, utilizing submissions that Stern and other student editors contended rightfully belonged to the *Review*. Interestingly, Stern was later invited to read at a fundraiser for *Big Table* and published what he read in its second issue, demonstrating a complex, perhaps even ironic, relationship with the burgeoning Beat movement. Furthermore, the issue preceding the contentious winter edition had already featured an excerpt from *Naked Lunch* alongside other Beat writers, indicating the *Review*'s general openness to the movement prior to the specific censorship claims.

A Prolific Literary Legacy

Richard Stern began building his impressive literary legacy with his debut novel, *Golk*, published in 1960. This was followed by a steady stream of critically acclaimed works, including *Europe or Up and Down with Baggish and Schreiber* (1961), *In Any Case* (1962), *Stitch* (1965), *Other Men's Daughters* (1973), *Natural Shocks* (1978), *A Father's Words* (1986), and *Pacific Tremors* (2001). Beyond his novels, Stern was also a master of the short story, with his collected stories culminating in the publication of *Almonds to Zhoof* in 2004, marking his 21st book. Of this final collection, a reviewer in *The New Republic* famously dubbed him "the best American author of whom you have never heard," a tag that resonated with his career for decades. Stern himself acknowledged his peculiar literary standing with the well-known self-deprecation: "I was a has-been before I'd been a been," and critic Richard Schickel noted that he "was almost famous for not being famous." In addition to his fiction, Stern also published insightful essay collections, such as *What is What Was* in 2002. These collections consistently demonstrated that his astute observations found in fiction were deeply rooted in, and equal to, his keen perceptions of contemporary news and culture, bridging the gap between imaginative narrative and sharp commentary.

Accolades, Fellow Writers, and Enduring Influence

Though he often joked about his lack of widespread fame, Richard Stern's talent was certainly recognized and celebrated within literary circles. In 1985, he received the prestigious Medal of Merit for the Novel, an honor bestowed only once every six years by the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Among his numerous other accolades was the Heartland Award for the best work of non-fiction, which he earned for his poignant memoir, *Sistermony*, published in 1995. Stern garnered immense praise from many of the literary giants and critics of his time, including Anthony Burgess, Flannery O'Connor, Howard Nemerov, Thomas Berger, Hugh Kenner, Sven Birkerts, and Richard Ellmann. He also fostered close friendships with an array of distinguished writers such as Tom Rogers, Saul Bellow, Donald Justice, and Philip Roth, relationships beautifully explored in his essay "Glimpse, Encounter, Acquaintance, Friendship" in the *Sewanee Review* (Winter 2009). His literary acquaintances and friendships further extended to luminaries like Samuel Beckett, Ezra Pound, Robert Lowell, Lillian Hellman, and Jorge Luis Borges, painting a picture of a writer deeply embedded in the intellectual currents of his era. Beyond his own writing, Stern's influence extended through his teaching, with many of his students at the University of Chicago going on to become accomplished writers themselves, including Douglas Unger, Robert Coover, Austin Wright, Campbell McGrath, Peter LaSalle, and Alane Rollings. Notably, his students also included well-known journalists like Seymour Hersh, David Brooks, and Mike Taibbi, highlighting the breadth of his impact.

Later Years and Lasting Impact

Even at the age of 80, Richard Stern maintained his dedication to writing, a testament to his enduring passion for literature. His works continue to be available and celebrated, with many of his books remaining in print through respected academic publishers such as Northwestern University Press and University of Chicago Press. From 2006 onwards, he further engaged with the literary world by maintaining a blog with *The New Republic*, sharing his astute observations and reflections with a wider audience. His life and literary contributions have been the subject of scholarly examination, most notably in *The Writings of Richard Stern: The Education of an Intellectual Everyman* by David Garrett Izzo (McFarland Publishing), published in 2001, and James Schiffer's study, *Richard Stern*, released by Twayne/Macmillan in 1993. These works ensure that Stern's unique voice and significant contributions to American literature and academia continue to be studied and appreciated.

Frequently Asked Questions About Richard G. Stern

Who was Richard Gustave Stern?

Richard Gustave Stern was an acclaimed American novelist, short story writer, and a long-serving, distinguished English professor at the University of Chicago, known for his incisive literary style and academic influence.

When did Richard Stern live?

He was born on February 25, 1928, in New York City and passed away on January 24, 2013, living a rich life dedicated to literature and education.

What are some of his most famous literary works?

Key novels include Golk, Stitch, A Father's Words, and Pacific Tremors. His comprehensive collection of short stories, Almonds to Zhoof, is also highly regarded.

What was Richard Stern's connection to the University of Chicago?

Richard Stern taught at the University of Chicago from 1955 to 2002, retiring as the Helen A Regenstein Professor of English and American Literature. He was also notably involved in the "Chicago Review" controversy concerning the publication of Beat Generation works.

What significant awards did Richard Stern receive?

He was awarded the prestigious Medal of Merit for the Novel by the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1985 and the Heartland Award for his memoir, Sistermony, in 1995, among many other recognitions.