J. Christopher Herold

Jean Christopher Herold (11 May 1919 – 10 December 1964) was a Czech-American university press editor and author. While holding an editorship for Columbia University Press from 1946 to 1956, Herold edited Columbia Encyclopedia articles about European history. From 1956 to 1960, Herold was the editor of Stanford University Press.

As an author, Herold primarily wrote French history books on Napoleon Bonaparte while also covering Joan of Arc and Madame de Staël. He won the 1959 National Book Award for Nonfiction with Mistress to an Age: A Life of Madame de Staël and received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1960. Herold was also given fellowships from the Royal Society of Literature and the Society of American Historians.

Early life and education

Herold was born on 11 May 1919 in Brno, Czechoslovakia. For his post-secondary education, Herold attended the University of Geneva during the late 1930s and studied literature. After moving to New York in 1939, Herold went to Columbia University for a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Arts in the early 1940s.[1][2]

Career

After completing his studies, Herold was a member of the Military Intelligence Corps from 1942 to 1945. In 1946, Herold started a decade long editorship tenure with Columbia University Press.[3] During this time period, Herold worked on European history articles for the Columbia Encyclopedia.[4] Herold had "rewrote some 10 million articles" while holding the position of assistant editor.[5]

In 1956, Herold was selected by Stanford University Press to become their editor.[6] He held the position until his replacement was selected in 1960.[7] Outside of editing, Herold wrote his first book, The Swiss Without Halos, in 1948 while at Columbia. From the 1950s to 1960s, Herold primarily wrote about Napoleon Bonaparte during his literary career in French history.[3]

In 1952, Herold wrote a children's book about Joan of Arc with Joan, Maid of France while Frederick T. Chapman provided the drawings.[8] After starting the work in 1953, Herold released his Madame de Stael biography in 1958.[9][10] In 1961, Herold released a book about women who lived in France between the 17th to 19th centuries called Love in Five Temperaments. His publication focused on Madame de Tencin, Madame de Staal de Launay, Mademoiselle Aisse, Mademoiselle Clairon, and Julie de Lespinasse.[11]

Awards and honors

In 1958, Mistress to an Age: A Life of Madame de Staël received the gold medal for nonfiction as part of the California Book Awards.[12] The following year, Mistress to an Age: A Life of Madame de Staël won the 1959 National Book Award for Nonfiction.[13] The following year, he received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1960 studying French literature.[14] Additional fellowships Herold received were from the Royal Society of Literature and the Society of American Historians.[3]

Death and personal life

On 10 December 1964, Herold died at Columbia–Presbyterian Medical Center. He had one child and was previously married.[5]

References
  1. Moritz, Charles, ed. (1959). "HEROLD, J(EAN) CHRISTOPER". Current Biography Yearbook. H.W Wilson Company. p. 183. ISBN 9780824204822. LCCN 40-27432.
  2. Bachmann, Thomas M., ed. (2000). "HEROLD, JEAN CHRISTOPER". Who's who in 20th century America. Marquis Who's Who. p. 123. ISBN 0837939755.
  3. Kinsman, Claire D., ed. (1975). "HEROLD, J(EAN) CHRISTOPER 1919-1964". Contemporary Authors. Permanent. Vol. 1. Gale Research Company. p. 285. ISBN 0810300362.
  4. "Stanford Press names Herold to editor post". Daily Palo Alto Times. June 29, 1956. p. 2.
  5. "J. Christopher Herold, 45, Dies; Author of 'Mistress to an Age'". New York Times. 11 December 1964. p. 39. Retrieved 17 July 2022.
  6. "Author New Head Of Stanford Press". Redwood City (Cal.) Tribune. July 5, 1956. p. 11.
  7. "Campus Press Editor Named". Redwood City (Cal.) Tribune. January 14, 1960. p. 19.
  8. Goodwin, Polly (August 10, 1952). "Life of Joan". Chicago Sunday Tribune. sec. Part 4 p. 8.
  9. W. D. P. (May 17, 1959). "The Author of the Week". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. p. 4D.
  10. "Campus press editor writers work about Mme. de Stael". Daily Palo Alto Times. October 2, 1958. p. 13.
  11. Baumann, Priscilla Fitzgerald (October 27, 1961). "Five French Women Who Portray An Age". The Nashville banner. p. 21.
  12. "The California Book Awards Winners 1931 - 2012" (PDF). Commonwealth Club. p. 4. Retrieved August 27, 2022.
  13. "Mistress to an Age: A Life of Madame De Stael". National Book Foundation. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  14. "J. Christopher Herold". John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
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