The idea for the book was born when hurst traveled with black author zora neale hurston and encountered racism, although. Films like young at heart gordon douglas, 1954, humoresque jean negulesco, 1946, and imitation of life show that her writing has the ability to be adapted to charming and enjoyable film work. Fannie hursts novel, imitation of life 1933, was the story of two single mothers, one white and one black, who join forces and become successful businesswomen. A bestseller in 1933, and subsequently adapted into two beloved a. She died on february 23, 1968 in new york city, new york, usa.
Imitation of life kindle edition by fannie hurst, daniel itzkovitz. The screenplay by william hurlbut, based on fannie hurst s 1933 novel of the same name, was augmented by eight additional uncredited writers, including preston sturges and finley peter dunne. Imitation of life book by fannie hurst thriftbooks. Imitation of life struck a chord in the 1930s, and it continues to resonate powerfully today. Imitation of life is a 1934 american drama film directed by john m. Brief biography of fannie hurst, american novelist best known for imitation of life. Fannie hurst s novel, imitation of life 1933, was the story of two single mothers, one white and one black, who join forces and become successful businesswomen.
Daniel itzkovitzs introduction situates imitation of life in its literary. Imitation of life 1934 wikipedia, a enciclopedia livre. She is the author of 17 novels and more than 250 short stories, as well as plays, screenplays, memoirs, essays and articles. Fannie hursts novel imitation of life, produced and released by universal pictures as a vehicle for lana turner.
Aug 24, 2009 imitation of life 1933 is a book written by fannie hurst, a oncefamous american writer. Fannie hurst was born on october 18, 1889 in hamilton, ohio, usa. The story began as a 1933 fannie hurst novel about the troubled relationships between two pairs of mothers and daughters, one black and one white. In the early 1920s, fannie hursts enormous popularity made her the highestpaid writer in america. This is the america that warmly greeted douglas sirks imitation of life in 1959, and when i saw it in a whitesonly alabama theatre, this was with sobbing white matrons responding to the films deeply conservative message about knowing your place. Imitation of life struck a chord in the s, and it continues to resonate powerfully fannie hurst was a major celebrity in the first half of the twentieth century. If you havent seen either the 1934 or 1959 versions. Based on a bestselling novel by fannie hurst, sirks film was the second adaptation of the book, and it strays much farther from the source material than the more straightforward 1934 screen version. But both women suffer heartbreak caused by their daughters. Dec 07, 2004 imitation of life struck a chord in the 1930s, and it continues to resonate powerfully today. The works called imitation of lifefannie hursts 1933 novel and its two film adaptations, john m. Her novels and stories were translated into a dozen languages. While hunter combed over the source material, and even toyed with transferring it into a broadway musical, director douglas. This glamorized remake of the 1934 film imitation of life bears only a passing resemblance to its source, the bestselling novel by fannie hurst.
Daniel itzkovitzs brilliant edition of imitation of life places this controversial novel at the center of u. Fannie hurst author of imitation of life goodreads. Douglas sirk claus detler sierck was born in hamburg, germany, in 1900. Imitation of life by fannie hurst, stated 2nd printing published as a tower books edition by world publishing co. Fannie hurst s imitation of life traces the friendship developed between two single women one african american employee and one caucasian employer and chronicles the women raising their daughters and the complicated emotional relationships they have with them from childhood to adulthood.
Her work combined sentimental, romantic themes with social issues of the day, such as womens rights and race relations. Among her bestknown works are back street 1930 and lummox 1923. A bestseller inand subsequently adapted into two beloved imitafion controversial films, imitation of life has played a vital role in ongoing conversations about race, femininity, and the. It was the only hollywood film of the 1930s to view race as a serious issue. With claudette colbert, warren william, rochelle hudson, ned sparks. Stahls 1934 imitation of life with douglas sirks betterknown version from 1959, an examination of savage inequities. Imitation of life author fannie passionate for artistry. While the taste for melodrama may have lessened over time, hursts ability to catalyze real. Pdf on jan 1, 1990, jane caputi and others published specifying fannie. With the aim of gathering material for her writing, she worked. Langston h ughess limitations of life, zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god, and toni morrisons the bluest eye as answers to hursts imitation of life. Stahl, 1934, based on fannie hursts acclaimed novel, was a defining moment in the history of women in film and a watershed moment for africanamerican casting in hollywood. Colbert is a working girl who yearns to operate her own business, which she does.
Consequently, when i was informed by armchair marxists in the 70s that the film was a work of. Stahls 1934 adaptation of fannie hursts novel, about an actress lana turner whose rising fame brings misery. Douglas sirks 1959 masterpiece, imitation of life, is screening in a freshly restored print at the brattle, where it runs from friday through monday. Without that man lovin and with her beloved delilah having gone to meet her maker, bea is left to face her imitation of life. The book was made into a hollywood film in 1934 and 1959. The text block is in fine condition with no marks, tears, or dog ears. She was one of the most widely read female authors of the 20th century, and for a. She was a writer, known for back pay 1930, four daughters 1938 and the day she paid 1919.
A bestseller when first published, fannie hursts 1933 novel, imitation of life 2 has spawned two american adaptations. Apr 14, 2020 brief biography of fannie hurst, american novelist best known for imitation of life. Fannie hurst october 19, 1885 february 23, 1968 was an american novelist and shortstory writer whose works were highly popular during the postworld war i era. Imitation of life by douglas sirk douglas sirk, lana. Fannie hurst, american novelist, dramatist, and screenwriter. Imitation of life stands as sirks masterpiece and perhaps the greatest hollywood melodrama ever made. The first of two film version of fannie hursts novel, 1934s imitation of life chronicles the friendship between two womenone white claudette colbert, one black louise beavers. Fannie hurst was a major celebrity in the first half of the twentieth century. She conquered the literary scene at the same time the silent movie industry began to emerge as a tremendously profitable and popular form of entertainment. From the turn of the 20th century until the supreme court ruled in loving v.
Colbert is a widow with a baby daughter who hires beavers, who also has a daughter, as a housekeeper. The author of numerous bestselling novels, a masterful short story writer, and an outspoken social activist, fannie hurst was a major celebrity in the first half of the twentieth century. Both the 1934 version with claudette colbert and louise beavers, as well as the 1959 one starring. Imitation of life is a popular 1933 novel by fannie hurst that was adapted into two successful films for universal pictures. In the early 1920s, fannie hurst s enormous popularity made her the highestpaid writer in america. A struggling widow and her daughter take in a black housekeeper and her fairskinned daughter. A bestseller in 1933, and subsequently adapted into two beloved and controversial films, imitation of life has played a vital role in ongoing conversations about. From it would flow two successful, though controversial, film adaptations. The author of numerous bestselling novels, a masterful short story writer, and an outspoken social activist, fannie hurst was a major celebrity in the first half of. Fannie hursts imitation of life traces the friendship developed between two single women one african american employee and one caucasian employer and chronicles the women raising their daughters and the complicated emotional relationships they. The film stars claudette colbert, warren william, and rochelle hudson, and features louise beavers and.
The screenplay by william hurlbut, based on fannie hursts 1933 novel of the same name, was augmented by eight additional uncredited writers, including preston sturges and finley peter dunne. The film was so famous among blacks that peola, the name of. The author of numerous bestselling novels, a masterful short story writer, and an outspoken social activist, fannie hurst was a major celebrity in. He made nine films before fleeing nazi germany, eventually coming to america.
Imitation of life 1933 is a book written by fannie hurst, a oncefamous american writer. Hunter offered turner the starring role in a remake of imitation of life 1959. The first of two film version of fannie hurst s novel, 1934s imitation of life chronicles the friendship between two womenone white claudette colbert, one black louise beavers. Imitation of life edition 1 by fannie hurst 9780822333241. Langston h ughess limitations of life, zora neale hurstons their eyes were watching god, and toni morrisons the bluest eye.
In her heyday, hurst was a contributor to the saturday evening post, the century magazine, and cosmopolitan magazine, and was featured in annual editions of the best american short story. His bestknown films, made during the 1950sall of them melodramaswere magnificent obsession, all that heaven allows, the tarnished angels, written on the wind. Douglas sirks final hollywood picture is a remake of john m. The first of two film version of fannie hursts novel, 1934s imitation of life chronicles the friendship between two womenone white claudette. She graduated from washington university in 1909 and continued her studies at columbia university in new york city. The film stars claudette colbert, warren william, and rochelle hudson, and features louise beavers and fredi washington.
A remake of the 1934 imitation of life, the film also stars en. Stahls in 1934 and douglas sirks in 1959 investigate a. Virginia 1967, numerous southern states passed laws enforcing a onedrop rule, requiring that persons of. Imitation of life novel project gutenberg selfpublishing. Imitation of life books gateway duke university press. Fannie hurst 18891968 was a popular writer of many novels and short stories. Modernity, modernism, and racial passing in fannie hursts imitation of life. Buy a cheap copy of imitation of life book by fannie hurst. In a passionate and witty behindthescenes expose, the author of all about all about eve takes on the classic 1959 douglas sirk film starring lana turner few films inspire the devotion of imitation of life, one of the most popular films of the 50sa split personality drama thats both an irresistible womens picture and a dark commentary on ambition. Stahl, 1934, based on fannie hurst s acclaimed novel, was a defining moment in the history of women in film and a watershed moment for africanamerican casting in hollywood. Back street 1931 is one of her two bestremembered novels among the many that she wrote. Buy imitation of life by fannie hurst online at alibris. The film was so famous among blacks that peola, the name of one of the main characters, was still a byword for selfhating.
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