Erica Jong

About Erica Jong

After the publication of two books of poetry, Fear of Flying, Erica Jong’s first and most famous novel published in 1973, blew conventional thinking about women, marriage and sexuality out of the water, selling over 37 million copies and being translated into over 45 languages including Chinese and Arabic. Her novel articulated what women thought but which, through decades of silent complicity with the status quo, was never voiced. 

In Isadora Wing, her fictional doppelganger, Erica created every woman – not as she existed in public life in the 70s, but inside a woman’s own mind. Sex and sexuality, while being at the core of most of Jong’s writing, is almost incidental to what makes her one of the world’s most iconic writers. It’s not the sex itself but the fact that she quietly flouted the unspoken norms of the day to talk about it unblinkingly – neither voyeur, nor prude – that made her a pillar of the sexual revolution and a hero to millions, as well as gaining her the admiration of writers like John Updike, Henry Miller, Anthony Burgess and Jennifer Weiner.

Comfortable and eloquent in various genres, she has switched between fiction, non-fiction and poetry almost effortlessly, becoming one of the most evocative poets of her generation with 7 published volumes, and winning Poetry magazine’s Bess Hokin Prize. 

Erica has won awards for poetry and fiction all over the world. These awards include: The Fernanda Pivano award in Italy, The Sigmund Freud Award in Italy, the Deauville Award in France and The United Nations Award for excellence in literature.

The true star of Erica’s writing is courage. She has spoken openly of her demons with writing and her chronic self-doubt. She has dared to examine under a public microscope her most intimate relationships – with her fiery mother who raged at having to sacrifice a painting career to look after family; with her four husbands who included a college sweetheart, a psychiatrist, a writer, and a divorce lawyer; and with her beloved daughter, writer and political podcast host, Molly Jong-Fast.  Erica adores her grandchildren whose own talents speak volumes.

Erica’s latest novel, FEAR OF DYING, brought together a career of writing, reflecting, asking questions, trying to solve the puzzle of her own life, and in turn helped shed light on the lives of so many others. 

In 2023, the documentary, ERICA JONG: Breaking the Wall - was premiered at the Lucarno Film Festival in Switzerland and has been welcomed across Europe.

She has multiple adaptations of her fiction works pending and she has big hopes for you to enjoy them soon.

Questioning herself with deep honesty and intelligent humor, the works of Erica Jong continue to open the sealed doors of our lives.