Bernard Wolfe
Bernard Wolfe was an American writer born on August 28, 1915, in New Haven, Connecticut. After earning a bachelor's degree from Yale University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi, he embarked on a diverse writing career that included novels, screenplays, and nonfiction. Wolfe is perhaps most recognized for his satirical novel, *The Great Prince Died* (1959), which centers around the assassination of Leon Trotsky, a figure Wolfe had once worked for as a secretary. Another notable work is his science-fiction novel *Limbo* (1952), which explores themes of human resistance against technology and critiques organized religion, set in a future defined by a powerful supercomputer.
Wolfe's writing spanned various genres, including pornography and biography, and he contributed to publications such as *Mechanix Illustrated*, *Playboy*, and *Esquire*. Despite his talent, he faced challenges in maintaining the visibility of his work, with some of his titles going out of print. In addition to his fiction, he authored books on subjects like plastics and hypnotism, showcasing his wide-ranging interests and expertise.
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Bernard Wolfe
Author
- Born: August 28, 1915
- Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut
- Died: October 27, 1985
- Place of death: Calabasas, California
Biography
Editor and author Bernard Wolfe was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on August 28, 1915. He was the son of Robert and Ida Gordon Wolfe. He received a bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 1935, and he studied for a graduate degree at the university between 1935 and 1936. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Sigma Xi.
Wolfe began his writing career as a freelance writer of novels and short stories. He later worked as a screenwriter for Universal International Pictures, Tony Curtis Productions, and other film producers. During his writing career, Wolfe wrote works in several genres, including biography, screenplays, pornography, and science fiction. For a time, he worked as a editor at Mechanix Illustrated magazine.
Wolfe is perhaps best known as a novelist who wrote comedic satires. His best-known novel was The Great Prince Died, published in 1959. The novel is based on the murder of the exiled Bolshevik revolutionary Leon Trotsky (1879-1940). Wolfe had actually worked for Trotsky for several months as a secretary before writing the novel.
Wolfe’s other notable work was a science-fiction novel, Limbo, published by Random House in 1952. It was published in England under the title Limbo 90. Noted science-fiction writer Harlan Ellison described Wolfe as a better writer than himself, and an author who faced the most difficult of circumstances—his books were out of print. The plot of Limbo revolves around the misadventures of Dr. Martine, a neurosurgeon who journals and wisecracks too much. The book is set in what was at the time the futuristic world of the 1990’s. Similar to other science-fiction novels set in the near future, most notably George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949) and Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1932), Wolfe’s novel was called shocking for its revelations about the future. The book hypothesizes another great world conflict, one in which human actions are controlled by a supercomputer. Eventually, the humans rebel against the computer, and they vow to take control of technology rather than have it dictate their lives. The basic premise of the novel is that human minds can surpass their technological creations. As well, the novel criticizes organized religion and the Bible. The book’s protagonist, Dr. Martine, is far from an exemplary human being, as he actually commits a rape at one point.
In addition to his novels, Wolfe wrote a number of nonfiction works, including books on plastics and hypnotism. He also wrote several other novels, including The Magic of Their Singing (1961), Move up, Dress up, Drink up, Burn Up (1968; short stories), and Memoirs of a Not Altogether Shy Pornographer (1972). Wolfe also wrote short stories and essays which were published in magazines such as The Nation, Playboy, and Esquire.