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Sontag: Her Life and Work

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In preparation of the biography, Moser was given access to Sontag's restricted archive of unpublished journals, medical files, personal papers, and computer files. Moser also conducted hundreds of interviews with Sontag's family, friends and adversaries, including individuals who had previously not
410:. They argue that Sontag's sole authorship is highly unlikely because much of the book is drawn from the dissertation: "To defend his position, Moser would have to make the absurd argument that Sontag wrote every word of Rieff’s earlier dissertation, an argument even Moser balks at making." 493:
panned the biography as a failure of its subject and criticized Moser's interpretation of Sontag as clinical and relying on "armchair psychology". Emre also called it "no more psychologically revealing" than Sontag's diaries or the unauthorized biography by Carl Rollyson and Lisa Paddock,
27: 464:, which assigns individual ratings to book reviews from mainstream literary critics, the book received a cumulative "Positive" rating based on 32 reviews: 8 "Rave" reviews, 11 "Positive" reviews, 11 "Mixed" reviews, and 2 "Pan" reviews. 246:. Judges of the prize called the book "an authoritatively constructed work told with pathos and grace, that captures the writer's genius and humanity alongside her addictions, sexual ambiguities, and volatile enthusiasms." 1661: 345:
that Sontag agreed for the book to be published as Rieff's work only because she was involved in an "acrimonious divorce" with him and wanted to prevent "her ex-husband from taking her child."
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after its publication. Moser maintained that there were "contemporary witnesses" to her authorship of the book, and that Sontag's views were apparent in its comments on women and
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that he failed to substantiate them and that they reflected his dislike of Rieff. Len Gutkin, who observed that Rieff's reputation rested partly on
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was based partly on Rieff's research, the book was actually written by Sontag rather than by Rieff. According to Flood, Moser told
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called it a "doorstopper biography" but felt the book was "likely to deter all but her most ardent admirers" due to its length.
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for Biography. Moser wrote at the time that he expected to take at least three to four years to complete a biography of Sontag.
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that much of Moser's evidence was "compelling". He also suggested that whoever wrote the book had plagiarized from the critic
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to Rieff's earlier dissertation, which they argue Moser shows no evidence of having read in
187: 634: 630: 299: 933:"A Tale of Two Plagiarists: Did Susan Sontag's husband steal credit for her first book?" 402:, have challenged Moser's claim by arguing Moser has a bias against Rieff. They compare 26: 1392: 1101: 909: 771: 472:
called the book "a comprehensive, intimate—and surely definitive" biography of Sontag.
468: 438: 394:(1953), arguing that it contains closely similar passages. Kevin Slack, a professor at 372: 295: 261: 240: 230: 66: 48: 37: 1292: 1042: 1015: 988: 690: 1635: 1124: 794:"Benjamin Moser - Sontag: Her Life and Work — in conversation with Elizabeth Bruenig" 520: 434: 426: 367: 359: 1620: 1556: 1348: 1268: 1157: 853: 485: 387: 363: 332: 323: 265: 226: 87: 598: 366:, and Rieff granted only that Sontag was "co-author" of the book. The journalist 1484: 1303: 430: 429:, on September 17, 2019. The audiobook is narrated by Tavia Gilbert. The book's 269: 1074: 524: 490: 461: 433:
was designed by Allison Saltzman and features a photograph of Susan Sontag in
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As Consciousness Is Harnessed to Flesh: Journals and Notebooks, 1964–1980
1420: 961:"Susan Sontag Was Not the Sole Author of Freud: The Mind of the Moralist" 766: 642: 1316: 1016:"Sontag: Her Life and Work by Benjamin Moser, narrated by Tavia Gilbert" 641:. Filming is expected to take place in California, New York, Paris and 203: 710:"Moser, Whitehead, McDaniel, Grandin, Boyer, Brown Win 2020 Pulitzers" 1311: 1125:"Nonfiction Book Review: Sontag: Her Life and Work by Benjamin Moser" 849:"Susan Sontag was true author of ex-husband's book, biography claims" 546: 448:
edition of the book will be published by Ecco on September 15, 2020.
1070:"Book Marks reviews of Sontag: Her Life and Work by Benjamin Moser" 354:, Moser stated that Sontag always claimed to be the real author of 1320: 162: 1662:
Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography-winning works
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was published in hardcover, e-book and audiobook format by
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signed an agreement to write the authorized biography of
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as Sontag was in development, with a working title of
597:(in Portuguese). Translated by Couto, José Geraldo. 1606: 1583: 1541: 1515: 1466: 1430: 1362: 1355: 905:"Susan Sontag and the unholy practice of biography" 198: 186: 174: 160: 147: 137: 129: 121: 113: 103: 93: 83: 75: 62: 54: 44: 959:Slack, Kevin; Batchelder, William (May 11, 2020). 125:Print (hardcover and paperback), e-book, audiobook 983: 981: 276:to write the biography. Moser previously wrote 327:that Benjamin Moser would present evidence in 1332: 1097:"Sontag: Her Life and Work by Benjamin Moser" 1043:"Sontag: Her Life and Work by Benjamin Moser" 989:"Sontag: Her Life and Work by Benjamin Moser" 571:(in Dutch). Translated by Biekmann, Lidwien. 142:Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography 8: 282:(2009), a biography of the Brazilian writer 19: 660: 658: 1359: 1339: 1325: 1317: 738:"Benjamin Moser to Write Sontag Biography" 625:In February 2023, it was announced that a 25: 18: 398:, and William Batchelder, a professor at 348:In an extract from his book published in 1591:Reborn: Journals and Notebooks 1947–1963 268:. Moser was approached by Sontag's son, 821:Carrigan Jr., Henry L. (October 2019). 654: 286:. The book was a finalist for the 2009 254:On February 27, 2013, John Williams of 225:is a 2019 biography of American writer 665:Moser, Benjamin (September 17, 2019). 370:criticized Moser's claims, arguing in 321:In May 2019, Alison Flood reported in 34:Susan Sontag, New York, April 10, 1978 31:Front cover and spine of first edition 903:Malcolm, Janet (September 23, 2019). 294:spoken publicly about Sontag such as 7: 736:Williams, John (February 27, 2013). 875:Moser, Benjamin (August 29, 2019). 496:Susan Sontag: The Making of an Icon 437:on April 10, 1978, photographed by 288:National Book Critics Circle Award 14: 938:The Chronicle of Higher Education 383:The Chronicle of Higher Education 931:Gutkin, Len (October 11, 2019). 1153:"Misunderstanding Susan Sontag" 404:Freud: The Mind of the Moralist 378:Freud: The Mind of the Moralist 356:Freud: The Mind of the Moralist 338:Freud: The Mind of the Moralist 317:Freud: The Mind of the Moralist 847:Flood, Alison (May 13, 2019). 244:for Biography or Autobiography 1: 877:"Regarding the Pen of Others" 691:"2020 Pulitzer Prize Winners" 1453:Regarding the Pain of Others 767:"Sontag: Her Life and Work" 708:Maher, John (May 4, 2020). 16:2019 book by Benjamin Moser 1678: 1241:Grupo Companhia das Letras 569:Sontag. Haar leven en werk 314: 20:Sontag: Her Life and Work 1652:Biographies about writers 1615:Sontag: Her Life and Work 1306:Sontag: Her Life and Work 1304:Presentation by Moser on 1294:Sontag: Her Life and Work 667:Sontag: Her Life and Work 517:Sontag: Her Life and Work 419:Sontag: Her Life and Work 408:Sontag: Her Life and Work 329:Sontag: Her Life and Work 272:, and the literary agent 222:Sontag: Her Life and Work 71:Allison Saltzman (design) 24: 1400:Under the Sign of Saturn 1048:HarperCollins Publishers 1021:HarperCollins Publishers 994:HarperCollins Publishers 1161:(October 2019 ed.) 392:The Mirror and the Lamp 55:Audio read by 1642:2019 non-fiction books 1446:AIDS and Its Metaphors 1407:Where the Stress Falls 1386:Styles of Radical Will 1371:Against Interpretation 194:PS3569.O6547 Z767 2019 1216:. Singel Uitgeverijen 400:Waynesburg University 315:Further information: 260:reported that writer 1647:American biographies 1308:, September 19, 2019 802:. September 17, 2019 603:Companhia das Letras 1492:The Way We Live Now 1439:Illness as Metaphor 595:Sontag: Vida e Obra 510:Publication history 21: 1574:Letter from Venice 1550:Duet for Cannibals 799:Politics and Prose 746:The New York Times 483:In her review for 257:The New York Times 109:September 17, 2019 1629: 1628: 1533:Lady from the Sea 1499:The Volcano Lover 1462: 1461: 1363:Essay collections 1299:Harpercollins.com 1130:Publishers Weekly 882:Harper's Magazine 715:Publishers Weekly 676:978-0-06-289639-1 669:. HarperCollins. 627:biographical film 612:978-85-359-3283-6 586:978-90-295-3978-4 560:978-0-241-00348-0 534:978-0-06-289639-1 504:978-0-393-04928-2 477:Publishers Weekly 458:review aggregator 396:Hillsdale College 351:Harper's Magazine 284:Clarice Lispector 236:The book won the 218: 217: 154:978-0-06-289639-1 114:Publication place 63:Cover artist 1669: 1657:Ecco Press books 1599: 1414:At the Same Time 1380: 1360: 1341: 1334: 1327: 1318: 1280: 1279: 1277: 1276: 1259: 1253: 1252: 1250: 1248: 1232: 1226: 1225: 1223: 1221: 1213:De Arbeiderspers 1204: 1198: 1197: 1195: 1193: 1186:Penguin Books UK 1177: 1171: 1170: 1168: 1166: 1148: 1142: 1141: 1139: 1137: 1121: 1115: 1114: 1112: 1110: 1093: 1087: 1086: 1084: 1082: 1066: 1060: 1059: 1057: 1055: 1039: 1033: 1032: 1030: 1028: 1012: 1006: 1005: 1003: 1001: 985: 976: 975: 973: 971: 956: 950: 949: 947: 945: 928: 922: 921: 919: 917: 900: 894: 893: 891: 889: 872: 866: 865: 863: 861: 844: 838: 837: 835: 833: 818: 812: 811: 809: 807: 790: 784: 783: 781: 779: 763: 757: 756: 754: 752: 733: 727: 726: 724: 722: 705: 699: 698: 695:www.pulitzer.org 687: 681: 680: 662: 616: 590: 577:De Arbeiderspers 564: 543:Sontag: Her Life 538: 425:, an imprint of 311:Authorship claim 214: 211: 209: 207: 205: 190: 164: 105:Publication date 36:, photograph by 29: 22: 1677: 1676: 1672: 1671: 1670: 1668: 1667: 1666: 1632: 1631: 1630: 1625: 1602: 1595: 1579: 1537: 1511: 1494:" (short story) 1458: 1426: 1378: 1376:Notes on 'Camp' 1351: 1345: 1289: 1284: 1283: 1274: 1272: 1262:Tabbara, Mona. 1261: 1260: 1256: 1246: 1244: 1234: 1233: 1229: 1219: 1217: 1206: 1205: 1201: 1191: 1189: 1179: 1178: 1174: 1164: 1162: 1150: 1149: 1145: 1135: 1133: 1123: 1122: 1118: 1108: 1106: 1105:. 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Abrams 381: 377: 371: 364:Jacob Taubes 355: 349: 347: 343:The Guardian 342: 336: 333:Philip Rieff 328: 324:The Guardian 322: 320: 292: 277: 274:Andrew Wylie 266:Susan Sontag 255: 253: 235: 227:Susan Sontag 221: 220: 219: 88:Susan Sontag 33: 1584:Other works 1485:I, etcetera 1356:Non-fiction 944:October 15, 916:October 15, 431:dust jacket 414:Publication 380:, wrote in 331:that while 270:David Rieff 229:written by 182:818/.5409 B 156:(hardcover) 1636:Categories 1523:A Parsifal 1506:In America 1431:Monographs 1275:2023-02-10 1081:August 25, 1075:Book Marks 888:August 29, 649:References 551:Allen Lane 491:Merve Emre 462:Book Marks 250:Background 169:1057731049 1479:Death Kit 1347:Works by 599:São Paulo 573:Amsterdam 452:Reception 206:.benmoser 94:Publisher 1572:(a.k.a. 1421:On Women 1236:"SONTAG" 1208:"Sontag" 1181:"Sontag" 827:BookPage 742:ArtsBeat 643:Sarajevo 605:. 2019. 579:. 2019. 553:. 2019. 527:. 2019. 521:New York 460:website 435:New York 335:'s book 306:Contents 76:Language 1607:Related 1467:Fiction 1165:May 14, 970:May 16, 860:May 14, 498:(2000) 456:At the 212:/sontag 199:Website 84:Subject 79:English 69:(photo) 1312:C-SPAN 1247:May 5, 1220:May 5, 1192:May 4, 1136:May 5, 1109:May 5, 1054:May 4, 1027:May 5, 1000:May 4, 832:May 5, 806:May 5, 778:May 5, 751:May 5, 721:May 4, 673:  639:Sontag 609:  583:  557:  547:London 531:  502:  210:/books 138:Awards 45:Author 1542:Films 1516:Plays 130:Pages 1621:Camp 1249:2020 1222:2020 1194:2020 1167:2020 1138:2020 1111:2020 1083:2024 1056:2020 1029:2020 1002:2020 972:2020 946:2019 918:2019 890:2019 862:2019 834:2020 808:2020 780:2020 753:2020 723:2020 671:ISBN 607:ISBN 581:ISBN 555:ISBN 529:ISBN 525:Ecco 500:ISBN 423:Ecco 298:and 238:2020 208:.com 163:OCLC 149:ISBN 98:Ecco 1297:at 390:'s 204:www 133:832 1638:: 1374:(" 1310:, 1266:. 1238:. 1210:. 1183:. 1155:. 1127:. 1099:. 1072:. 1045:. 1018:. 991:. 980:^ 963:. 935:. 907:. 879:. 851:. 825:. 796:. 769:. 744:. 740:. 712:. 693:. 657:^ 601:: 575:: 549:: 545:. 523:: 519:. 506:. 489:, 444:A 441:. 302:. 233:. 1576:) 1490:" 1381:) 1379:" 1340:e 1333:t 1326:v 1278:. 1251:. 1224:. 1196:. 1169:. 1140:. 1113:. 1085:. 1058:. 1031:. 1004:. 974:. 948:. 920:. 892:. 864:. 836:. 810:. 782:. 755:. 725:. 697:. 679:. 615:. 589:. 563:. 537:.

Index


Richard Avedon
Benjamin Moser
Richard Avedon
Susan Sontag
Ecco
Pulitzer Prize for Biography or Autobiography
ISBN
978-0-06-289639-1
OCLC
1057731049
Dewey Decimal
LC Class
www.benmoser.com/books/sontag
Susan Sontag
Benjamin Moser
2020
Pulitzer Prize
for Biography or Autobiography
The New York Times
Benjamin Moser
Susan Sontag
David Rieff
Andrew Wylie
Why This World
Clarice Lispector
National Book Critics Circle Award
Salman Rushdie
Annie Leibovitz
Freud: The Mind of the Moralist

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