Bancroft Prize
1 appearances
Kenneth Eugene Silverman
ケネス・ユージン・シルバーマン
Kenneth Eugene Silverman
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1936-02-05 （Manhattan, New York City, U.S.）
- Died
- 2017-07-07 （Manhattan, New York City, U.S.） age 81
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Religion
- Judaism
- Residence History
- New York City (Manhattan)
Career
- Occupations
- biographer, educator, historian
- Active Years
- 1956-2010
- Affiliations
- New York University (Professor of English)
- Memberships
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences (Fellow)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stuyvesant High School | — | — | — | — | United States |
| Columbia University | Columbia College | Department of English | B.A. | 1952–1956 | United States |
| Columbia University | Graduate School | Department of English | M.A. | 1956–1958 | United States |
| Columbia University | Graduate School | Department of English | Ph.D. | 1958–1964 | United States |
Stuyvesant High School
Year of Graduation:
1953
Country:
United States
High school graduation (approx.)
Columbia University
Columbia College
/ Department of English
Degree:
B.A.
Period:
1952–1956
Year of Graduation:
1956
Country:
United States
Bachelor of Arts in English
Columbia University
Graduate School
/ Department of English
Degree:
M.A.
Period:
1956–1958
Year of Graduation:
1958
Country:
United States
Master of Arts in English
Columbia University
Graduate School
/ Department of English
Degree:
Ph.D.
Period:
1958–1964
Year of Graduation:
1964
Country:
United States
Doctor of Philosophy in English
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Pulitzer Prize (Biography or Autobiography) | The Life and Times of Cotton Mather | — | Pulitzer Prize Board | 受賞 |
| 1985 | Bancroft Prize | The Life and Times of Cotton Mather | アメリカ史 | Columbia University (Bancroft Prize committee) | 受賞 |
| 1992 | Edgar Award | Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance | — | Mystery Writers of America | 受賞 |
| — | Christopher Literary Award (Society of American Magicians) | Houdini | — | Society of American Magicians | 受賞 |
Pulitzer Prize (Biography or Autobiography)
1985
Work:
The Life and Times of Cotton Mather
Organization:
Pulitzer Prize Board
Result:
受賞
Bancroft Prize
1985
Work:
The Life and Times of Cotton Mather
Category:
アメリカ史
Organization:
Columbia University (Bancroft Prize committee)
Result:
受賞
Edgar Award
1992
Work:
Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance
Organization:
Mystery Writers of America
Result:
受賞
Christopher Literary Award (Society of American Magicians)
Work:
Houdini
Organization:
Society of American Magicians
Result:
受賞
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
Colonial American Poetry (editor)
1968 edited volume / literary historyAn edited collection introducing poetry from Colonial America.
Colonial literaturePoetry
Timothy Dwight
1969 biography / literary historyA biography of Timothy Dwight, an early American educator and poet.
Early American literatureReligion and education
A Cultural History of the American Revolution
1976 cultural historyA study of the culture of the American Revolution through painting, music, literature, and theatre.
American RevolutionCultural history
The Life and Times of Cotton Mather
1984 biography / historyA definitive biography of colonial minister Cotton Mather, detailing his life and influence. Winner of the Pulitzer and Bancroft Prizes.
religious historyColonial America
Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance
1991 biographyA detailed biography of Edgar Allan Poe. Winner of the Edgar Award.
literary historyGothic literature
Houdini
1997 biographyA biography of Harry Houdini, exploring his life, career, and contributions to the history of magic and performance.
history of entertainmentperformance
Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F.B. Morse
2003 biographyA biography of Samuel F. B. Morse, focusing on his inventions, art, and personal struggles.
history of inventionbiography
Begin Again: A Biography of John Cage
2010 biographyA detailed biography of composer John Cage, examining his innovative music and thought.
music historycontemporary art
Bibliography
- Colonial American Poetry (editor) (1968)
- Timothy Dwight (1969)
- A Cultural History of the American Revolution (1976)
- The Life and Times of Cotton Mather (1984)
- Edgar A. Poe: Mournful and Never-ending Remembrance (1991)
- Houdini (1997)
- Lightning Man: The Accursed Life of Samuel F.B. Morse (2003)
- Begin Again: A Biography of John Cage (2010)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- scholarly and meticulous prosedetailed, archival-based narration
- Recurring Motifs
- focus on Colonial and early American historyreconstructing cultural history through biography
Health
-
lung cancer2017Died of lung cancer in 2017. Affected his final-year activities.
Legacy
Kenneth Silverman was a biographer and scholar of Colonial American literature and history. He won the Pulitzer and Bancroft Prizes for The Life and Times of Cotton Mather. As a professor at New York University he mentored scholars and contributed to the understanding of American cultural history through his wide-ranging biographies.
Academic Societies
- American Academy of Arts and Sciences (Fellow)
Archives
- Yale LUX collections (related materials)
Trivia
- Born in Manhattan, New York City.
- Served as Professor of English at New York University until 2001.
- Won the Pulitzer and Bancroft Prizes for The Life and Times of Cotton Mather.