LC

Laurie Colwin


Full Name and Common Aliases


Laurie Colwin was an American novelist, food writer, and essayist. Her full name is Laurie Colwin, but she is often referred to by her nickname.

Birth and Death Dates


Born on May 10, 1947, in New York City, Laurie Colwin died of a heart attack on October 2, 1992, at the age of 45.

Nationality and Profession(s)


Colwin was an American novelist and food writer. She published her first novel, Happy All the Time, in 1983, followed by several other novels, including Passionate Nest and Shine On, Bright and Beautiful.

Early Life and Background


Growing up in a middle-class family in New York City, Laurie Colwin developed a passion for writing at an early age. Her parents were both writers and encouraged her creative pursuits from a young age. She attended the Bronx High School of Science and later studied English literature at Barnard College. After graduating, she moved to London, where she began working as a waitress and developing her culinary skills.

Major Accomplishments


Colwin's writing career was marked by several significant accomplishments. Her first novel, Happy All the Time, received critical acclaim for its nuanced portrayal of relationships and character development. The book was later adapted into a film in 1997. Colwin's subsequent novels, including Passionate Nest and Shine On, Bright and Beautiful, solidified her reputation as a talented novelist.

Notable Works or Actions


In addition to her novels, Colwin was also a prolific food writer. Her essays on food, culture, and relationships were published in various magazines, including The New Yorker and Gourmet Magazine. Her writing often explored the intersection of food, identity, and community. Colwin's passion for cooking and sharing meals with others is reflected in her novels, which frequently feature elaborate feasts and gatherings.

Impact and Legacy


Laurie Colwin's impact on contemporary literature extends beyond her own work. She was a key figure in the 1980s literary scene, alongside authors like Donna Tartt and Jonathan Franzen. Her writing has been praised for its wit, nuance, and emotional depth. Colwin's exploration of relationships, identity, and community continues to resonate with readers today.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Laurie Colwin is widely quoted and remembered for her insightful and engaging writing style, which often blends humor, pathos, and intellectual curiosity. Her novels and essays have been praised for their nuanced portrayal of relationships and character development. Colwin's ability to capture the complexities of human experience has made her a beloved figure in literary circles.

In conclusion, Laurie Colwin was a talented novelist, food writer, and essayist who left an indelible mark on contemporary literature. Her writing continues to inspire readers with its wit, nuance, and emotional depth. As we reflect on her life and work, it is clear that Laurie Colwin's legacy will endure for generations to come.

Quotes by Laurie Colwin

Laurie Colwin's insights on:

Unlike some people who love to go out, I love to stay home.
"
Unlike some people who love to go out, I love to stay home.
No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, and the wisdom of cookbook writers.
"
No one who cooks, cooks alone. Even at her most solitary, a cook in the kitchen is surrounded by generations of cooks past, the advice and menus of cooks present, and the wisdom of cookbook writers.
Dinner alone is one of life’s pleasures. Certainly cooking for oneself reveals man at his weirdest.
"
Dinner alone is one of life’s pleasures. Certainly cooking for oneself reveals man at his weirdest.
In foreign countries I am drawn into grocery shops, supermarkets and kitchen supply houses. I explain this by reminding my friends that, as I was taught in my Introduction to Anthropology, it is not just the Great Works of mankind that make a culture. It is the daily things, like what people eat and how they serve it.
"
In foreign countries I am drawn into grocery shops, supermarkets and kitchen supply houses. I explain this by reminding my friends that, as I was taught in my Introduction to Anthropology, it is not just the Great Works of mankind that make a culture. It is the daily things, like what people eat and how they serve it.
Their first actual kiss was a one-celled organism which, after they had been standing on the stairway kissing for some time, evolved into something rather grander – a bird of paradise, for example.
"
Their first actual kiss was a one-celled organism which, after they had been standing on the stairway kissing for some time, evolved into something rather grander – a bird of paradise, for example.
I love the process of learning a thing. It’s doing a thing I find so boring.
"
I love the process of learning a thing. It’s doing a thing I find so boring.
Out on the street I felt lost wandering around without my child. I felt I ought to wear a pin that said: I have a child in school at the moment.
"
Out on the street I felt lost wandering around without my child. I felt I ought to wear a pin that said: I have a child in school at the moment.
Gertje was right. To be an American was to be blessed with a kind of idiotic but very useful innocence.
"
Gertje was right. To be an American was to be blessed with a kind of idiotic but very useful innocence.
Most of his time appeared to be spent bumming cigarettes from people whose annual income was about a fifth of his own.
"
Most of his time appeared to be spent bumming cigarettes from people whose annual income was about a fifth of his own.
When I was alone, I lived on eggplant, the stove top cook’s strongest ally...
"
When I was alone, I lived on eggplant, the stove top cook’s strongest ally...
Showing 1 to 10 of 85 results