Robert Rimmer
Encyclopedia
Robert Henry Rimmer was the author
of several books, most notably The Harrad Experiment, which was made into a film
in 1973.
The recurring theme in all or almost all of Rimmer's writing was a criticism of the assumption of monogamy
as a societal norm. All the protagonists in his novels discover that they are happier in arrangements which would nowadays be called polyamorous or polyfidelitous. They explore various ways of organizing life, through laws or other means, to facilitate such relationships.
, Mark Twain
, and the unexpurgated Arabian Nights. He graduated from Bates College
with a multi-disciplinary degree in English, Psychology and Philosophy and later obtained an MBA from Harvard. He served in World War II. When his enlistment was up, he returned to the US and took a position in the family printing business. 25 years passed before he wrote his first novel.
in 1973, and That Girl from Boston was adapted in 1975.
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
of several books, most notably The Harrad Experiment, which was made into a film
The Harrad Experiment
The Harrad Experiment is a movie about a fictional Harrad College where the students learn about sexuality and experiment with each other...
in 1973.
The recurring theme in all or almost all of Rimmer's writing was a criticism of the assumption of monogamy
Monogamy
Monogamy /Gr. μονός+γάμος - one+marriage/ a form of marriage in which an individual has only one spouse at any one time. In current usage monogamy often refers to having one sexual partner irrespective of marriage or reproduction...
as a societal norm. All the protagonists in his novels discover that they are happier in arrangements which would nowadays be called polyamorous or polyfidelitous. They explore various ways of organizing life, through laws or other means, to facilitate such relationships.
Biography
Robert Henry Rimmer was born on March 14, 1917 to Francis "Frank" Henry Rimmer, a printing company owner, and Blanche Rosealma, née Rochefort, Rimmer in Boston, MA. Frank Rimmer, determined to be successful in business, had a series of sales positions including selling vacuum cleaners, then typewriters, door to door, before securing a loan to open his own printing firm in 1916. With the support of business partner, George Duffy, Frank Rimmer formed the Relief Printing Corporation soon after Robert's birth, "relief" meaning raised print on business cards and stationery. Robert Rimmer stated, "Little did I know as a growing fetus in Blanche's womb that twenty-nine years later Relief Printing Corporation would own me, and FH, as I began to call him ("Dad" seemed inappropriate when I was finally in business with him), would be subtly controlling my life." His relationship with his father, especially, and his mother are reflected in some of his works, such as the novel The Rebellion of Yale Marrat. Rimmer stated, "I transformed portions of my realities into fiction. Pat Marrat, for example, is a fleshier, cigar-smoking version of FH. The conflict between Matt Godwin and his father in The Immoral Reverend has many similarities." Rimmer has stated that his greatest influences came from reading books, since this was the only real available entertainment in his developmental years, especially reading of his heroes such as Benjamin Franklin and the "Bound to Rise" heroes of Horatio Alger, as well as Hans Christian AndersenHans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish author, fairy tale writer, and poet noted for his children's stories. These include "The Steadfast Tin Soldier," "The Snow Queen," "The Little Mermaid," "Thumbelina," "The Little Match Girl," and "The Ugly Duckling."...
, Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
, and the unexpurgated Arabian Nights. He graduated from Bates College
Bates College
Bates College is a highly selective, private liberal arts college located in Lewiston, Maine, in the United States. and was most recently ranked 21st in the nation in the 2011 US News Best Liberal Arts Colleges rankings. The college was founded in 1855 by abolitionists...
with a multi-disciplinary degree in English, Psychology and Philosophy and later obtained an MBA from Harvard. He served in World War II. When his enlistment was up, he returned to the US and took a position in the family printing business. 25 years passed before he wrote his first novel.
Movie adaptions
Rimmer's novel The Harrad Experiment was made into a filmThe Harrad Experiment
The Harrad Experiment is a movie about a fictional Harrad College where the students learn about sexuality and experiment with each other...
in 1973, and That Girl from Boston was adapted in 1975.
External links
- "Yarns Without Threads", a review of Robert Rimmer's novels The Harrad ExperimentThe Harrad ExperimentThe Harrad Experiment is a movie about a fictional Harrad College where the students learn about sexuality and experiment with each other...
, Proposition 31Proposition 31Proposition 31 is a 1968 novel written by Robert Rimmer that tells the story of two middle-class, suburban California couples who turn to a polyamorous relationship to deal with their multiple infidelities as an alternative to divorce...
and The Premar Experiments (1973) (1975)