JR
Jonathan Raban
83quotes
Full Name and Common Aliases
Jonathan Raban was born as Jonathan Michael Raban on December 28, 1942.
Birth and Death Dates
December 28, 1942 – June 7, 2021
Nationality and Profession(s)
British-American writer and journalist.
Early Life and Background
Jonathan Raban was born in London, England. His father, a naval officer, moved the family to New Zealand when Jonathan was a young boy. They later returned to Britain, where Jonathan spent his formative years. He developed an interest in writing at an early age, influenced by his parents' love of literature.
Major Accomplishments
Jonathan Raban is best known for his travelogue Soft City (1974), which explored the urban landscape and culture of London. The book's success established him as a prominent writer and critic. He continued to write extensively on topics such as politics, culture, and human rights. His writing often focused on the intersection of personal experience and broader social issues.
Notable Works or Actions
Some notable works include Soft City (1974), Ararat (1996), and The Soft Bed of Memory: Interviews with Writers (2008). He also wrote for various publications, including _The New Yorker_, _The London Review of Books_, and _Granta_. Raban was a vocal critic of the 1980s British government's policies, particularly its handling of issues related to human rights.
Impact and Legacy
Jonathan Raban's writing had a significant impact on contemporary literature. His work often challenged readers' perspectives on politics, culture, and society. He is remembered for his unique voice, which blended personal narrative with sharp social commentary. As a journalist, he was known for his ability to report on complex issues in an accessible way.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Jonathan Raban's writing continues to be widely read and quoted due to its relevance to contemporary debates about politics, culture, and society. His work remains influential among scholars, writers, and readers interested in exploring the intersection of personal experience and broader social issues.
Quotes by Jonathan Raban
Jonathan Raban's insights on:
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'Rage' is the word that most often attaches itself to the Tea Party movement, and it's true that, from the outside looking in, their public demonstrations appear to be more enraged than any political events in America since the race riots and anti-war protests of the 1960s.
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Every White House has had its intellectuals, but very few presidents have been intellectuals themselves – Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Woodrow Wilson, the list more or less stops there.
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People who live on continents get into the habit of regarding the ocean as journey’s end, the full stop at the end of the trek. For people who live on islands, the sea is always the beginning. It’s the ferry to the mainland, the escape route from the boredom and narrowness of home.
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It’s been so long since a talented writer last occupied the White House; no wonder, then, that American writers have been among the most prominent of all the demographic groups claiming a piece of Barack Obama for themselves.
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I’ve taught the better class of tourist both to see and not to see; to lift their eyes above and beyond the inessentials, and thrill to our western Nature in her majesty.
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Simply as a writer of books I’m thrilled and proud that Seattle should have raised, on a public vote, sufficient money to build a central library, and moreover to rebuild every other library in the city: 28 of them.
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The only book by a modern president that bears serious comparison with Obama’s ‘Dreams From My Father’ is Jimmy Carter’s short campaign autobiography, ‘Why Not the Best?,’ published in 1975.
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It always seems to me odd to call a place a wilderness when every wilderness area in the US bristles with rules and regulations as to how you can behave, what you’re allowed to do, and is patrolled by armed rangers enforcing the small print. They’re parks, of course, not wildernesses at all.
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In the city one clings to nostalgic and unreal signs of community, takes forced refuge in codes, badges and coteries; the city’s life, of surfaces and locomotion, usually seems too dangerous and demanding to live through with any confidence.
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