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Cynthia Ozick

American writer · United States · On the map · Writers · Born 1928 · age 98

Cynthia Ozick is an American short story writer, novelist, and essayist.

Cynthia Ozick is read about 82 times a day, in 20 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 104 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2016“there was a time when a new novel came out - let's take Saul Bellow - and it was a public event. And really, it wasn't just an elitist hobby.”In their words17 July 2016Interview with NPRRead the whole statement

“I don't think one writes for immortality. I think beginning writers always think they will have fame.”In their words17 July 2016Interview with NPRRead the whole statement

“("On why she writes") Because I can't not. I mean, what else am I going to do with my life? That's another way of putting it. I simply must. Writers simply can't help themselves.”In their words17 July 2016Interview with NPRRead the whole statement

“Sometimes repugnance overrides psychological curiosity, and sometimes psychological curiosity is no more illuminating than pornography.”In their words10 July 2016Interview with The New York TimesRead the whole statement

“(What moves you most in a work of literature?) Language as the well of image and feeling. Nabokov rather than Hemingway. If less is more, it is nevertheless also loss.”In their words10 July 2016Interview with The New York TimesRead the whole statement

2011“In the middle of the war there was Heine, there was Goethe, there was Schiller. I did posters for the German club, in the middle of the war.”In their words4 July 2011Interview with The GuardianRead the whole statement

2008PEN/Malamud AwardAward2007National Humanities MedalAwardPrix Laure BataillonAward2000National Book Critics Circle Award in CriticismAward1982Guggenheim FellowshipAward1975O. Henry AwardAward1971Edward Lewis Wallant AwardAward1928Born17 April 1928

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In their own words 4

Cynthia Ozick

4 statements, newest first

I have argued this question, novel versus essays, and I do come out on the novel side.
17 July 2016 · Interview with NPR, Own words
I always knew that this was what I wanted to do. I think this is true of most writers - especially anybody who's read Little Women, which is every writer.
17 July 2016 · Interview with NPR, Own words
(And about your favorite poem.) “Dover Beach,” by Matthew Arnold.
10 July 2016 · Interview with The New York Times, Own words