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Frances FitzGerald

フランセス・フィッツジェラルド

Frances FitzGerald

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1940-10-21 （New York City）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
New York City (residence) → Maine (residence) → Cambridge, Massachusetts (residence history)

Career

Occupations
journalist, historian, author
Active Years
1960-
Affiliations
The Nation (editorial board), Foreign Policy (editorial board), International PEN (vice-president)
Memberships
International PEN, The Nation (editorial board), Foreign Policy (editorial board)
Influenced By
Paul Mus, Daniel Ellsberg, Ward Just

Education

Radcliffe College
Arts/Liberal Arts
Degree: BA (magna cum laude)
Period: 1958–1962
Year of Graduation: 1962
Country: United States
Graduated magna cum laude from Radcliffe College

Awards

Pulitzer Prize (General Nonfiction)
1973
Work: Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam
Category: General Nonfiction
Organization: The Pulitzer Prizes
Result: winner
Bancroft Prize
1973
Work: Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam
Category: History
Organization: Bancroft Prize (Columbia University)
Result: winner
National Book Award (Contemporary)
1973
Work: Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam
Category: Contemporary/Current Affairs
Organization: National Book Foundation
Result: winner
Golden Plate Award
1987
Organization: American Academy of Achievement
Result: winner
Pulitzer Prize (finalist)
2001
Work: Way Out There in the Blue
Category: General Nonfiction
Organization: The Pulitzer Prizes
Result: finalist

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam

1972 history / literary journalism

A comprehensive analysis of the Vietnam War that examines the clash between American policy and Vietnamese history and culture, warning that the United States misunderstood Vietnam.

Vietnam Warcultural misunderstandingU.S. foreign policy

America Revised

1979 criticism / education history

A critical examination of U.S. history textbooks, discussing distortions and choices in the way history is taught.

educationhistorical interpretationtextbooks

Cities on a Hill: A Journey through Contemporary American Cultures

1986 social history / cultural study

Explores various American urban cultures contrasted with national ideals. Includes a chapter on Rajneeshpuram, a topic later referenced in documentaries.

urban historyculture vs. idealsreligious movements

Way Out There in the Blue: Reagan, Star Wars and the End of the Cold War

2000 political history / contemporary history 592 pages

Analyzes Reagan-era foreign and defense policies, especially the Strategic Defense Initiative ('Star Wars'), and their role in the end of the Cold War.

Cold Wardefense policypolitical history

Vietnam: Spirits of the Earth

2001 cultural history / nonfiction

Portrays Vietnamese society through its culture, beliefs, and the impact of war.

cultural anthropologyimpact of warreligion

The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America

2017 religious history / political history 706 pages

A detailed history of the evangelical movement in the U.S. and its political and cultural influence; shortlisted for major nonfiction awards in 2017.

religious historypolitics and religionAmerican history

Bibliography

  • Fire in the Lake: The Vietnamese and the Americans in Vietnam (1972)
  • America Revised (1979)
  • Cities on a Hill: A Journey through Contemporary American Cultures (1986)
  • Way Out There in the Blue: Reagan, Star Wars and the End of the Cold War (2000)
  • Vietnam: Spirits of the Earth (2001)
  • The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America (2017)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
narrative nonfiction grounded in meticulous reportingdeep integration of historical context and local culture
Recurring Motifs
impact of war on societiesmisunderstanding between culturesexamination of American political decisions

Legacy

Established international reputation with 'Fire in the Lake' and produced significant works on U.S. foreign and cultural history; highly regarded in both academia and journalism.

Academic Societies

  • International PEN (involvement)

Archives

  • Princeton University — Adlai Stevenson Collection (letters etc.)

In Popular Culture

  • The Rajneeshpuram chapter in 'Cities on a Hill' relates to topics covered by the documentary 'Wild Wild Country'

Quotes

  • The United States did not understand the history and culture of Vietnam.
    Source: Fire in the Lake (1972) (1972)

Trivia

  • Her father, Desmond FitzGerald, served at high rank in the CIA.
  • Half-sister is model Penelope Tree.
  • Graduated magna cum laude from Radcliffe College.
  • 'Fire in the Lake' won the Pulitzer Prize, Bancroft Prize and National Book Award.