Sanford Friedman
Encyclopedia
Sanford Friedman was an American novelist.
Friedman's Totempole (1965) features an army love affair between its protagonist and a North Korean doctor war prisoner. Some have identified the Stephen Wolfe persona in this novel as being the first instance of a main character who is both Jewish and gay in American fiction.
, in the same class as his lifelong friend Allard K. Lowenstein
, Friedman earned a BFA from the Carnegie Institute of Technology
. From 1951 to 1953 he served in the US Army as a military policeman in Korea
, where he was awarded a Bronze Star. He has taught writing at the Juilliard School
and at SAGE. He was a friend to many noted artists like Lee Krasner
and Fritz Bultman
, and for several years Friedman was the companion of the noted American poet, translator, and critic Richard Howard
. Howard dedicated his poem "1915: A Pre-Raphaelite Ending, London" to him. Friedman was also active off-Broadway as a writer and producer, collaborating with actor Howard Da Silva
; author Ben Maddow
; and playwright Arnold Perl. Perl authored a 1957 play, “Tevya and his Daughters,” co-produced by Friedman and starring Mike Kellin
as Sholem Aleichem’s dairyman — a production which inspired 1964’s “Fiddler on the Roof
.” In 1968, Friedman signed the “Writers and Editors War Tax Protest” pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. Friedman died of a heart attack in his Manhattan apartment on April 20, 2010.
from the Society of Arts & Sciences for Ocean, which formed part of his novel Totempole.
Friedman's Totempole (1965) features an army love affair between its protagonist and a North Korean doctor war prisoner. Some have identified the Stephen Wolfe persona in this novel as being the first instance of a main character who is both Jewish and gay in American fiction.
Life
Friedman was born in New York City, the son of Leonard and Madeline (Uris) Friedman. A 1945 graduate of the Horace Mann SchoolHorace Mann School
Horace Mann School is an independent college preparatory school in New York City, New York, United States founded in 1887 known for its rigorous course of studies. Horace Mann is a member of the Ivy Preparatory School League, educating students from all across the New York tri-state area from...
, in the same class as his lifelong friend Allard K. Lowenstein
Allard K. Lowenstein
Allard Kenneth Lowenstein, , was a liberal Democratic politician, a one-term congressman representing the 5th District in Nassau County, New York from 1969 until 1971. His work on civil rights and the antiwar movement has been cited as an inspiration by public figures including Congressmen, John...
, Friedman earned a BFA from the Carnegie Institute of Technology
Carnegie Institute of Technology
The Carnegie Institute of Technology , is the name for Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering. It was first called the Carnegie Technical Schools, or Carnegie Tech, when it was founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie who intended to build a “first class technical school” in Pittsburgh,...
. From 1951 to 1953 he served in the US Army as a military policeman in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, where he was awarded a Bronze Star. He has taught writing at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
and at SAGE. He was a friend to many noted artists like Lee Krasner
Lee Krasner
Lee Krasner was an influential abstract expressionist painter in the second half of the 20th century. On October 25, 1945, she married artist Jackson Pollock, who was also influential in the Abstract Expressionism movement....
and Fritz Bultman
Fritz Bultman
Fritz Bultman was an American Abstract expressionist painter, sculptor, and collagist and a member of the New York School of artists....
, and for several years Friedman was the companion of the noted American poet, translator, and critic Richard Howard
Richard Howard
Richard Howard is an American poet, literary critic, essayist, teacher, and translator. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is a graduate of Columbia University, where he studied under Mark Van Doren, and where he now teaches...
. Howard dedicated his poem "1915: A Pre-Raphaelite Ending, London" to him. Friedman was also active off-Broadway as a writer and producer, collaborating with actor Howard Da Silva
Howard Da Silva
Howard Da Silva was an American actor.-Early life:He was born Howard Silverblatt in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Benjamin and Bertha Silverblatt. His parents were both Yiddish speaking Jews born in Russia. He had a job as a steelworker before beginning his acting career on the stage...
; author Ben Maddow
Ben Maddow
Ben Maddow was a prolific screenwriter and documentarian from the 1930s through the 70s. Educated at Columbia University, Maddow began his career working within the American documentary movement in the 30s.In 1936 he co-founded the short-lived left-wing newsreel The World Today...
; and playwright Arnold Perl. Perl authored a 1957 play, “Tevya and his Daughters,” co-produced by Friedman and starring Mike Kellin
Mike Kellin
-Early life:Kellin was born Myron Kellin in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Sophia and Samuel Kellin, Russian Jewish immigrants. He was educated at Boston University and Trinity College...
as Sholem Aleichem’s dairyman — a production which inspired 1964’s “Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof is a musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and book by Joseph Stein, set in Tsarist Russia in 1905. It is based on Tevye and his Daughters by Sholem Aleichem...
.” In 1968, Friedman signed the “Writers and Editors War Tax Protest” pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War. Friedman died of a heart attack in his Manhattan apartment on April 20, 2010.
Awards/Honors
In 1965 Friedman was given the O. Henry AwardO. Henry Award
The O. Henry Award is the only yearly award given to short stories of exceptional merit. The award is named after the American master of the form, O. Henry....
from the Society of Arts & Sciences for Ocean, which formed part of his novel Totempole.
List of works
- Totempole (1965)
- A Haunted Woman (1968)
- Still Life: Two Short Novels (1975)
- Fritz BultmanFritz BultmanFritz Bultman was an American Abstract expressionist painter, sculptor, and collagist and a member of the New York School of artists....
: bronze sculpture 1963-1975, exhibition January 10 to February 7, 1976, with text by Sanford Friedman and footnotes to the exhibition by the artist (1976) - Rip Van Winkle (1980)
External links
- article on Sanford Friedman from The Jewish Daily Forward in May, 2010.
- article on gay Jewish-American literature, including discussion of works by Sanford Friedman from glbtq.comGlbtq.comglbtq.com is an online encyclopedia that presents detailed biographies of notable gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. It was named one of the "Best Free Reference Web Sites" in 2005 by the American Library Association....
- http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/1965/nov/25/queen-for-a-day/review of Totempole by Bernard BergonziBernard BergonziBernard Bergonzi is a British literary scholar, critic and poet. He is Emeritus Professor of English at the University of Warwick and an expert on T. S. Eliot.He was born in London and studied at the University of Oxford...
] from New York Review of Books, Volume 5, Number 8, November 25, 1965. - What a Wonderful World: Notes on the Evolution of GLBTQ Literature for Young Adults by Michael Cart, ALAN Review, Winter 2004.
- http://www.forward.com/articles/15078/2009 article on Richard HowardRichard HowardRichard Howard is an American poet, literary critic, essayist, teacher, and translator. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio and is a graduate of Columbia University, where he studied under Mark Van Doren, and where he now teaches...
mentioning his relationship with Sanford Friedman] from The Jewish Daily Forward. - The Homosexual Pastoral Tradition by Rictor NortonRictor NortonDr. Rictor Norton is an American scholar of literary and cultural history, particularly gay history. He is based in London, England.- Biography :...
discussing Sanford Friedman's novel Totempole. - Sanford Friedman's WorldCat entry