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Daphne Merkin

ダフネ・マーキン

Dafune Mākin

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1954-05-30 （New York City, United States）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Religion
Judaism
Residence History
Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York

Career

Occupations
literary critic, essayist, novelist, writing teacher, editor
Active Years
1978-
Affiliations
92nd Street Y, Tablet (contributing editor)

Education

Barnard College
Undergraduate / English
Degree: BA
Period: 1972–1976
Year of Graduation: 1976
Country: United States
Completed undergraduate degree
Columbia University
Graduate School / English
Period: 在籍（期間不明）
Country: United States
Attended graduate program in English; degree status unknown

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Enchantment

1984 Novel

A novel exploring the inner life and relationships of a young woman. Detailed synopsis not provided.

relationshipsself-discovery

Dreaming of Hitler

1997 Essay collection

A collection of essays in which personal memoir and cultural analysis intersect to examine self and history.

memorycultural criticismfamily

The Fame Lunches

2014 Essay collection

An essay collection about fame, social status, and interpersonal dynamics.

famesocial observationidentity

This Close to Happy: A Reckoning With Depression

2017 Memoir

A candid memoir about a long struggle with depression, covering illness, treatment, and personal experience.

depressionrecoveryself-analysis

22 Minutes of Unconditional Love

2020 Novel

A recent novel exploring the complexities of love and human relationships.

loverelationshipsemotional complexity

Bibliography

  • Enchantment
  • Dreaming of Hitler
  • The Fame Lunches
  • This Close to Happy: A Reckoning With Depression
  • 22 Minutes of Unconditional Love

Style & Themes

Literary Style
frank, personal essayistic stylea voice that blends cultural criticism with self-reflection
Recurring Motifs
depression and mental strugglefame and social statusfamily history and Jewish identityUpper-class New York milieu

Health

  • Depression (mood disorder)
    長年
    Has significantly influenced her writing and essays; detailed in her 2017 memoir.

Legacy

An American literary critic, essayist, and novelist known for candid personal essays and incisive cultural criticism. Active in major outlets such as The New Yorker and The New York Times Magazine; noted for her memoir on depression.

In Popular Culture

  • Influenced popular discourse through contributions to major magazines (The New Yorker, The New Republic, The New York Times Magazine).

Trivia

  • Her parents were philanthropists Hermann and Ursula Merkin.
  • Her brother is hedge fund manager J. Ezra Merkin.
  • Teaches writing at the 92nd Street Y.
  • Contributing editor at Tablet magazine.