Saul Bellow

Saul Bellow - Nobel Laureates In Literature, Family and Family

Violet FieldHome › AmericanSaul BellowJune 10, 1915764 views

0 based on 0 rates
Saul Bellow Biography Stories 

Saul Bellow's Personal Details

Saul Bellow was a celebrated Canadian-born American writer and novelist

InformationDetail
BirthdayJune 10, 1915
Died onApril 5, 2005
NationalityAmerican
FamousNobel Laureates In Literature, Northwestern University, University Of Chicago, Writers, Novelists, Short Story Writers, Non-Fiction Writers
SpousesAlexandra Bellow, Alexandra Tschacbasov, Anita Goshkin, Janis Freedman, Susan Glassman
SiblingsMaurice Bellows
Known asSolomon Bellows
ChildrensAdam Bellow, Greg Bellow, Rosie
Universities
  • Northwestern University,University Of Chicago
  • University of Chicago
  • 1937 - Northwestern University
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison
Notable Alumnis
  • Northwestern University
  • University Of Chicago
Birth PlaceLachine, Quebec, Canada
ReligionJudaism
GenderMale
FatherAbraham Bellows
MotherLescha Gordin
Sun SignGemini
Born inLachine, Quebec, Canada
Famous asNovelist
Died at Age89

// Famous Writers

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer is a Christian author and speaker. This biography provides detailed information about her childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin

Temple Grandin is a well-known American writer, autistic activist and animal expert. This biography profiles her childhood, life, achievements, career and timeline

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams

Tennessee Williams was one of the greatest playwrights of the 20th century. This biography of Tennessee Williams provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works and timeline.

Saul Bellow's photo

Who is Saul Bellow?

Saul Bellow was a celebrated Canadian-born American writer and novelist. He was brought up in a Jewish household, and grew up to become a representative figure for Jewish-American writers, whose works were critical to American literature post the World War II. Saul Bellow authored novels, short stories, non-fiction works and plays in his lifelong career in academics. As part of his teaching profession, he used to travel extensively, and taught at renowned institutions like the Yale University, Princeton University, Boston University and Bard College among others. Critics opined that Saul Bellow’s literary works were distinguished by the portrayal of the contemporary urban man who was discontented with the society, but not broken in spirit. His works won him prestigious awards like the Pulitzer Prize, Nobel Prize for Literature and the National Book Award. He is the only writer to have won the National Book Award for Fiction thrice. He was regarded by many as the backbone of American literature in the 20th century. Several biographies have been written about him, both before and after his demise.

// Famous Northwestern University

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert is an American comedian and satirist. Read the biography to learn all about his childhood, career, profile and timeline.

David Schwimmer

David Schwimmer

David Shwimmer is an American actor who is best known for his portrayal of ‘Ross Geller’ in the famous American sitcom ‘Friends.’ This biography profiles his childhood, family, personal life, career, etc.

George Joseph Stigler

George Joseph Stigler

George Stigler was one of the most influential economists of the 20th century. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to his life.

Childhood & Early Life

Saul Bellow was born Solomon Bellows to Lescha and Abraham Bellows on 10th June 1915 at Lachine, Quebec, Canada. He had a brother Maurice.

As a child, he was extremely fond of reading, and learnt Hebrew at the age of four. He decided to pursue writing as a career, after reading Harriet Beecher Stowe's ‘Uncle Tom's Cabin’.

His mother was highly orthodox and wished to make him a violinist or a rabbi. However, he resisted the idea and followed his interest in writing. His mother died when he was 17.

He shifted to Chicago with family when he was nine. He attended the Tuley High School and later enrolled t the University of Chicago. He then got transferred to Northwestern University and graduated with honours in Anthropology and Sociology. While at Chicago, he also pursued Anthroposophical studies from the Anthroposophical Society of Chicago.

Career

He began his career in the 1930s at the Works Progress Administration, Chicago. He was part of the Writer’s Project along with other writers like Nelson Algren and Richard Wright.

With the onset of World War II, he served in the United States Merchant Marine. It was during this time that he finished writing his debut novel ‘Dangling Man’, featuring a man waiting to be selected to serve in the army during the World War II. It was published in 1944.

Between 1941 and 1946, he taught intellectual history at the University of Minnesota. In 1948, he was presented with the Guggenheim Fellowship, and this allowed him to travel to Paris. While at Paris, he commenced work on his book ‘The Adventures of Augie March’ and this was published in 1953.

Saul Bellow taught creative writing at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras in 1961. The following year, he returned to Chicago and joined the University of Chicago as a professor at the Committee on Social Thought.

The Committee on Social Thought was formed with the objective of allowing teachers to engage with brilliant students through various approaches and learning methodologies. Saul Bellow taught here for 30 years.

In 1964, he finished writing his bestselling novel ‘Herzog’, featuring a professor who writes letters to students and friends, but never posts them. The novel was commercially successful and listed among the 100 best novels in the English language since ‘the beginning of time’ by TIME magazine. It also won the U.S. National Book Award for Fiction.

In 1970, his novel ‘Mr. Sammler’s Planet’ was published, and went on to win the National Book Award for Fiction the following year. In the book, the titular character observes how opulence and leisure have led to increased human suffering.

He released his novel ‘Humboldt’s Gift’ in 1975, and the book explored the dynamic relationship of art and authority in materialist America. The book was perceived as a narration about the growing commoditization of culture.

His works most often dwelt on the unsettling nature of modern civilization. A majority of his books featured Jewish characters that stood against the negative elements in the society. His books had a lot of admiration for America and its vibrancy, but they were also much influenced by Jewish life.

In 1977, he received the honour of being selected for the Jefferson Lecture by the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is the US Federal government’s highest honour for achievement in the field of Humanities. The title for his lecture was ‘The Writer and His Country Look Each Other Over’.

Between late 1981 and early 1982, he took up the post of visiting Lansdowne scholar, at the University of Victoria along with holding the position of ‘Writer-in-residence’.

Saul Bellow used to take up teaching assignments even during his old age, and he shifted to Brookline in Massachusetts in 1993, to take up teaching at the Boston University. He spent the rest of his life in Massachusetts.

Major Works

Saul Bellow wrote a number of award-winning and critically acclaimed novels, short stories and plays. His best known works include ‘The Adventures of Augie March’, ‘Mr. Sammler's Planet’, ‘Herzog’ and ‘Humboldt's Gift’.

Awards & Achievements

Saul Bellow won the National Book Award for Fiction thrice. He won the award in 1954 for ‘The Adventures of Augie March’, in 1965 for ‘Herzog’ and in 1971 for ‘Mr. Sammler's Planet’.

In 1976, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, for his work ‘Humboldt’s Gift’.

He also won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1976.

In 1980, he was awarded the O. Henry award.

He was recipient of the National Medal of Arts in 1988.

In 1989, he received the ‘Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award’ as well as the ‘PEN/Malamud Award’.

He was awarded the lifetime ‘Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters’ by National Book Foundation in 1990.

Personal Life & Legacy

Saul Bellow was known to have multiple romantic affairs in his lifetime. He had married five times, of which four marriages ended in a divorce. Saul Bellow married Anita Goshkin in 1937 and the couple had a son named Greg Bellow, who grew up to become a psychotherapist. In 1956, they parted ways.

His son Greg Bellow published the book ‘Saul Bellow’s Heart: A Son’s Memoir’ in 2013.

In 1956, he married Alexandra (Sondra) Tschacbasov and had a son named Adam. The couple divorced in 1959. In 2003, his son Adam published the book titled ‘In Praise of Nepotism’.

He married Susan Glassman in 1961. The marriage lasted for only three years and they separated in 1964.

In 1974, he married mathematician Alexandra Ionescu Tulcea. However, the couple divorced in 1985.

He married Janis Freedman in 1989. They had a daughter, Rosie in 1999.

Saul Bellow died on 5 April 2005 at Massachusetts, USA. He was 89 years old at the time.

Trivia

Saul Bellow became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1941 only as during he was an illegal migrant to the USA.

// Famous Non-Fiction Writers

Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond

Ruskin Bond is an award winning Indian author of British descent. This biography of Ruskin Bond provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Sean Hannity

Sean Hannity

Sean Hannity is a television host and political commentator best known for the talk show ‘The Sean Hannity Show’. This biography of Sean Hannity provides detailed information about his childhood, life, achievements, works & timeline.

Robert Graysmith

Robert Graysmith

Robert Graysmith is an author best identified for his works on the ‘Zodiac Killer case’. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and fun facts about him.

Saul Bellow biography timelines

  • // 10th Jun 1915
    Saul Bellow was born Solomon Bellows to Lescha and Abraham Bellows on 10th June 1915 at Lachine, Quebec, Canada. He had a brother Maurice.
  • // 1937 To 1956
    Saul Bellow was known to have multiple romantic affairs in his lifetime. He had married five times, of which four marriages ended in a divorce. Saul Bellow married Anita Goshkin in 1937 and the couple had a son named Greg Bellow, who grew up to become a psychotherapist. In 1956, they parted ways.
  • // 1941
    Saul Bellow became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1941 only as during he was an illegal migrant to the USA.
  • // 1944
    With the onset of World War II, he served in the United States Merchant Marine. It was during this time that he finished writing his debut novel ‘Dangling Man’, featuring a man waiting to be selected to serve in the army during the World War II. It was published in 1944.
  • // 1956 To 1959
    In 1956, he married Alexandra (Sondra) Tschacbasov and had a son named Adam. The couple divorced in 1959. In 2003, his son Adam published the book titled ‘In Praise of Nepotism’.
  • // 1961
    Saul Bellow taught creative writing at the University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras in 1961. The following year, he returned to Chicago and joined the University of Chicago as a professor at the Committee on Social Thought.
  • // 1961 To 1964
    He married Susan Glassman in 1961. The marriage lasted for only three years and they separated in 1964.
  • // 1964
    In 1964, he finished writing his bestselling novel ‘Herzog’, featuring a professor who writes letters to students and friends, but never posts them. The novel was commercially successful and listed among the 100 best novels in the English language since ‘the beginning of time’ by TIME magazine. It also won the U.S. National Book Award for Fiction.
  • // 1970
    In 1970, his novel ‘Mr. Sammler’s Planet’ was published, and went on to win the National Book Award for Fiction the following year. In the book, the titular character observes how opulence and leisure have led to increased human suffering.
  • // 1974 To 1985
    In 1974, he married mathematician Alexandra Ionescu Tulcea. However, the couple divorced in 1985.
  • // 1975
    He released his novel ‘Humboldt’s Gift’ in 1975, and the book explored the dynamic relationship of art and authority in materialist America. The book was perceived as a narration about the growing commoditization of culture.
  • // 1976
    In 1976, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, for his work ‘Humboldt’s Gift’.
  • // 1976
    He also won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1976.
  • // 1977
    In 1977, he received the honour of being selected for the Jefferson Lecture by the National Endowment for the Humanities. It is the US Federal government’s highest honour for achievement in the field of Humanities. The title for his lecture was ‘The Writer and His Country Look Each Other Over’.
  • // 1980
    In 1980, he was awarded the O. Henry award.
  • // 1981 To 1982
    Between late 1981 and early 1982, he took up the post of visiting Lansdowne scholar, at the University of Victoria along with holding the position of ‘Writer-in-residence’.
  • // 1988
    He was recipient of the National Medal of Arts in 1988.
  • // 1989
    In 1989, he received the ‘Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award’ as well as the ‘PEN/Malamud Award’.
  • // 1989 To 1999
    He married Janis Freedman in 1989. They had a daughter, Rosie in 1999.
  • // 1990
    He was awarded the lifetime ‘Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters’ by National Book Foundation in 1990.
  • // 1993
    Saul Bellow used to take up teaching assignments even during his old age, and he shifted to Brookline in Massachusetts in 1993, to take up teaching at the Boston University. He spent the rest of his life in Massachusetts.
  • // 5th Apr 2005
    Saul Bellow died on 5 April 2005 at Massachusetts, USA. He was 89 years old at the time.

// Famous Nobel Laureates In Literature

Seamus Heaney

Seamus Heaney

Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney was an Irish poet, playwright and translator. Know about his profile, childhood, life and timeline in the biography below.

Jean-Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Sartre was a great existentialist philosopher of the 20th century. Check out this biography to know about his childhood, family life, achievements and other facts related to his life.

Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda

Pablo Neruda was a Chilean poet, politician and Nobel laureate. Go through this biography to learn more about his profile, childhood, life and timeline.

John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck

John Steinbeck was a celebrated American writer famous for his novel, ‘The Grapes of Wrath’. Read on for detailed information about his childhood, profile, career and timeline

Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett

Samuel Beckett was an Irish playwright, novelist, theatre director and poet. This biography profiles his childhood, life, works, achievements and timeline

Boris Pasternak

Boris Pasternak

Boris Leonidovich Pasternak was a Russian novelist, poet and translator. This biography of Boris Pasternak provides detailed information about his childhood, life, writing career, achievements and timeline.

Saul Bellow's FAQ

  • What is Saul Bellow birthday?

    Saul Bellow was born at 1915-06-10

  • When was Saul Bellow died?

    Saul Bellow was died at 2005-04-05

  • Where was Saul Bellow died?

    Saul Bellow was died in Brookline

  • Which age was Saul Bellow died?

    Saul Bellow was died at age 89

  • Where is Saul Bellow's birth place?

    Saul Bellow was born in Lachine, Quebec, Canada

  • What is Saul Bellow nationalities?

    Saul Bellow's nationalities is American

  • Who is Saul Bellow spouses?

    Saul Bellow's spouses is Alexandra Bellow, Alexandra Tschacbasov, Anita Goshkin, Janis Freedman, Susan Glassman

  • Who is Saul Bellow siblings?

    Saul Bellow's siblings is Maurice Bellows

  • Who is Saul Bellow childrens?

    Saul Bellow's childrens is Adam Bellow, Greg Bellow, Rosie

  • What was Saul Bellow universities?

    Saul Bellow studied at Northwestern University,University Of Chicago, University of Chicago, 1937 - Northwestern University, University of Wisconsin-Madison

  • What was Saul Bellow notable alumnis?

    Saul Bellow's notable alumnis is Northwestern University, University Of Chicago

  • What is Saul Bellow's religion?

    Saul Bellow's religion is Judaism

  • Who is Saul Bellow's father?

    Saul Bellow's father is Abraham Bellows

  • Who is Saul Bellow's mother?

    Saul Bellow's mother is Lescha Gordin

  • What is Saul Bellow's sun sign?

    Saul Bellow is Gemini

  • How famous is Saul Bellow?

    Saul Bellow is famouse as Novelist