Joanna Hershon

Joanna Hershon is the author of Swimming, The Outside of August, and The German Bride. Her writing has appeared in One Story, The Virginia Quarterly Review, Post Road, the literary anthology Brooklyn Was Mine, and was shortlisted for the 2007 O. Henry Prize Stories.

Her latest novel is A Dual Inheritance.

From Hershon's Q & A with Nicole at Have Tote Will Travel:

A Dual Inheritance is an intimate look at friendship that spans not only over generations but also the globe. What first sparked this story idea for you?

This story was sparked in several different ways. When I was twelve, I was obsessed with my father’s Harvard Red Book—reading alumni essays from his class of ’59. These men or the idea of them must have stuck with me like ghosts for all of these years because I’ve always been intrigued by male friendships. They seem mysterious to me, maybe because there seems to be a depth of feeling that isn’t always expressed.

The book highlights an East Coast social clash in the 1960’s. Is this a part of American history that you’re drawn to?

Yes, I think I’ve always been drawn to the late 50’s early 60’s (pre-Mad Men!) because there were so many more divisions between people that were just about to be seriously upended. There were so many more strictures and social pressures, but also—on a more superficial note– the...[read on]

Learn more about the author and her work at Joanna Hershon's website.

The Page 69 Test: The German Bride.

My Book, The Movie: The German Bride.

Writers Read: Joanna Hershon.

The Page 69 Test: A Dual Inheritance.

My Book, The Movie: A Dual Inheritance.

--Marshal Zeringue