Close Friends & Idols-
Throughout Robert's childhood, educational journey, and writing/teaching career, he made many interesting friends and kept these close friendships for many many years.
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Bernard Knox was a famous English Classicist.
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Adam Parry was another famous Classicist at Yale University who tragically died in a motorcycle accident in 1971 with his wife.
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Paul Alpers was a Professor of English at Berkeley who died a few years ago.
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Julian Seldman was an Obstetrician Gynecologist.
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Morton Grosser was a man who currently lives in California and has been involved in aeronotics.
Robert kept a close relationship with all of these people right up until his death.
Here is information on more of Robert's friends, specifically fellow writers, professors, translators, etc.
Toni Morrison,
Toni Morrison is an editor, writer, and professor at Princeton University, which is where she met Robert and became good friends with him. Toni's books have received lots of recognition and praise. She was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993 and many other awards throughout her career. Toni is currently 88 years old.
M.S.Merwin
M.S. Merwin was an American poet who wrote and published over 50 books of poetry in his life time. Him and Robert grew up in areas close to each other and met over their shared love of writing and poetry. Sadly, Merwin passed away just recently on March 15, 2019, but his writing will be remembered forever.
Edmund Keeley,
Edmund Keeley was a professor of English at Princeton University. He was also a writer/translator and Robert's close friend and colleague. Edmund translated lots of poetry and was an expert on post second World War and Greek history. Edmund is currently 91 years old.
Joyce Carol Oates
Joyce Carol Oates is an American writer who has published more then 58 books in her lifetime. Her and her husband moved to Princeton, New Jersey in 1978 where she was intoduced to Robert and his work. They had much in common and became good friends. Joyce is currently 80 years old.
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Philip Roth
Phillip Roth was a short-story writer and American novelist. He was born in Newark, New Jersey and befriended Robert because of their shared interests. Phillip won the National Book Award, National Book Critics Circle Award, and many other awards for his creative writing. On the 22nd of May, 2018, Phillip passed away. He was an extremely talented and kind-hearted man.
Paul Muldoon
Paul Muldoon is a professor at Princeton University and an Irish poet. Paul won a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, which is an extremely well known and respected award. He also was one of the founders of the Peter B. Lewis Center for the Arts. Paul and Robert were close friends during their time working together at Princeton, and he is currently 67 years old.