Lore Segal: A Teacher's Legacy of Writing and Resilience
Jane Bernstein reflects on her nearly 50-year relationship with writer Lore Segal, who died in 2024 at age 96. They met in 1975 at Columbia University's MFA program, where Segal taught Bernstein's workshop. Segal, a Kindertransport survivor who arrived in England alone at age 10, became a lifelong mentor and friend. Bernstein describes Segal's teaching style—wry, particular, and focused on precise language—and her own evolution from shy student to published novelist. Segal's work includes novels like "Her First American" (1985), a finalist for the Pulitzer, and stories published in The New Yorker. Despite health declines, Segal continued writing, dictating a story shortly before her death. Bernstein's letter to Segal at her 90th birthday party expressed love and gratitude, though Segal never mentioned it. The essay highlights Segal's influence on Bernstein's writing life and her unwavering dedication to her craft.
Key facts
- Lore Segal died in 2024 at age 96.
- Bernstein met Segal in 1975 at Columbia University's MFA program.
- Segal was a Kindertransport survivor, arriving in England alone at age 10.
- Segal's novel 'Her First American' was a Pulitzer finalist.
- Segal dictated a story, 'Stories About Us,' published in The New Yorker shortly before her death.
- Bernstein wrote a love letter to Segal for her 90th birthday.
- Segal taught only in fall semesters at Columbia.
- Segal's writing was praised for its complexity and humor.
Entities
Artists
- Lore Segal
- Jane Bernstein
- Grace Paley
- Jennifer Egan
- Alice Mattison
- Matthew Shaer
Institutions
- Columbia University School of the Arts
- Carnegie Mellon University
- The New Yorker
- The New York Times Magazine
- The American Scholar
Locations
- New York City
- Upper West Side
- Pittsburgh
- Austria
- England
- Shelter Island