The eldest of three children, Herman Wouk was born on May 27, 1915 in New York City, where his parents had emigrated from Minsk, Russia. His father ran a successful laundry business, eventually moving from a working-class neighborhood in the Bronx to Manhattan. As a youth, Wouk was introduced to the practices of Orthodox Judaism, studying with his maternal grandfather. He attended public elementary school, where his academic prowess earned him a place at Townsend Harris High, a magnet school for gifted youth. Following high school he enrolled at Columbia University, where he majored in literature and philosophy. He edited the literary magazine and participated in amateur theatricals, writing comedy sketches that were well received by the campus community. At Columbia he made the…
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Citation: Mazzeno, Laurence. "Herman Wouk". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 08 March 2007; last revised 28 August 2018. [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=4806, accessed 25 April 2024.]
