Saul Steinberg

From National Book Award winner Deirdre Bair, the definitive biography of Saul Steinberg, one of The New Yorkers most iconic artists.

The issue date was March 29, 1976. The New Yorker cost 75 cents. And on the cover unfolded Saul Steinbergs vision of the world: New York City, the Hudson River, and then...well, its really just a bunch of stuff you neednt concern yourself with. Steinbergs brilliant depiction of the world according to self-satisfied New Yorkers placed him squarely in the pantheon of the magazines—and the eras—most celebrated artists.

But if you look beyond the searing wit and stunning artistry, youll find one of the most fascinating lives of the twentieth century. Born in Romania, Steinberg was educated in Milan and was already famous for his satirical drawings when World War II forced him to immigrate to the United States. On a single day, Steinberg became a US citizen, a commissioned officer in the US Navy, and a member of the OSS, assigned to spy in China, North Africa, and Italy. After the war ended, he returned to America and to his art. He quickly gained entree into influential circles that included Saul Bellow, Vladimir Nabokov, Willem de Kooning, and Le Corbusier. His wife was the artist Hedda Sterne, from whom he separated in 1960 but never divorced and with whom he remained in daily contact for the rest of his life. This conveniently freed him up to amass a coterie of young mistresses and lovers. But his truly great love was the United States, where he traveled extensively by bus, train, and car, drawing, observing, and writing.

His body of work is staggering and influential in ways we may not yet even be able to fully grasp, quite possibly because there has not been a full-scale biography of him until now. Deirdre Bair had access to 177 boxes of documents and more than 400 drawings. In addition, she conducted several hundred personal interviews. Steinbergs curious talent for creating myths about himself did not make her job an easy one, but the result is a stunning achievement to admire and enjoy.

The electronic version of this title does not contain the 35 Saul Steinberg illustrations that are available in the print edition.