Emma Wolf (June 15, 1865 – August 30, 1932) was an American litterateur and novelist. She published early in life and was the author of five novels. Wolf was born with a congenital defect and spent part of her life in a wheelchair.

Emma Wolf
(1896)
(1896)
Born(1865-06-15)June 15, 1865
San Francisco, California, U.S.
DiedAugust 30, 1932(1932-08-30) (aged 67)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
OccupationAuthor
Alma mater
Genre
Notable worksA Prodigal in Love
Signature

Early life and education edit

Emma Wolf was born June 15, 1865, in San Francisco, California. Her parents, Simon and Annette (née Levy) Wolf, were Jewish[1][2][3] and were emigrants from Alsace, France.[4][5] There were ten siblings, including a sister, Alice, who was also an author.[6]

She was educated in the public schools of San Francisco, including the Girls High School,[4] as well as the Teacher's College.[3] A physical disability kept her from becoming a teacher.[6]

Career edit

Early on, Wolf developed a bent for publishing her work. Her Jewish-themed novels attracted particular attention,[5] while other novels focused on the changing roles of women.[4] Numerous short stories were contributed to magazines.[3]

Her first novel, Other Things Being Equal (Chicago, A. C. McClurg, 1892), focused on the present-day social life of the American Jew, with the lesson derived being that other things being equal, a Jewish woman may marry a Christian. It affirmed the morality and peace of Jewish homes.[7] A Prodigal in Love (New York City, Harper, 1894), again set in San Francisco, was a successful novel telling the story of home perplexities.[8][9] This was followed by Joy of Life (New York City, A. C. McClurg, 1896), the story of two very different brothers.[10] Heirs of Yesterday (Chicago, A. C. McClurg, 1900) was described by Adler & Szold (1906) as "an interesting novel in which the force of tradition upon the Jew and the prejudiced attitude of the Christians are the underlying motives".[7] Wolf's last novel, published in 1916, was entitled Fulfillment.[2][3]

Personal life edit

Affected by a congenital defect, Wolf did not lead a very active life. In her later years, she was reliant on a wheelchair. She lived for a number of years at San Francisco's Dante Sanitorium.[4] Wolf was a member of Congregation Emanu-El[4] and the Philomath Club.[3]

Emma Wolf died in San Francisco, on August 30, 1932.[11]

Selected works edit

  • Other Things Being Equal (1892)
  • A Prodigal in Love (1894)
  • Joy of Life (1896)
  • Heirs of Yesterday (1900)
  • Fulfillment (1916)

Gallery edit

References edit

  1. ^ Herringshaw, Thomas William (1914). Herringshaw's National Library of American Biography: Contains Thirty-five Thousand Biographies of the Acknowledged Leaders of Life and Thought of the United States; Illustrated with Three Thousand Vignette Portraits ... American Publishers' Association. p. 753. Retrieved 8 June 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b The Encyclopedia Americana: A Library of Universal Knowledge ... Encyclopedia Americana Corporation. 1924. p. 437. Retrieved 8 June 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. ^ a b c d e Who's who in American Jewry. Jewish Biographical Bureau. 1927. p. 301. Retrieved 8 June 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. ^ a b c d e Kirzane, Jessica (23 June 2021). "Emma Wolf". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b The Jewish Encyclopedia: A Descriptive Record of the History, Religion, Literature, and Customs of the Jewish People from the Earliest Times to the Present Day. Funk and Wagnalls. 1912. p. 547. Retrieved 8 June 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ a b Baym, Nina (17 August 2012). Women Writers of the American West, 1833-1927. University of Illinois Press. p. 308. ISBN 978-0-252-07884-2. Retrieved 8 June 2023.
  7. ^ a b Adler, Cyrus; Szold, Henrietta (1906). American Jewish Year Book. Vol. 8. Jewish Publication Society of America. pp. 141–42. Retrieved 8 June 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. ^ Appletons' Annual Cyclopædia and Register of Important Events of the Year ... D. Appleton & Company. 1895. p. 391. Retrieved 8 June 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. ^ The Annual American Catalogue 1886-1900: Being the Full Titles, with Descriptive Notes, of All Books Recorded in the Publishers' Weekly, 1886-1900 with Author, Title, and Subject Index, Publishers' Annual Lists, and Directory of Publishers. Vol. 9. Publishers' weekly. 1895. p. 206. Retrieved 8 June 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. ^ "Joy of Life". Book News: An Illustrated Magazine of Literature and Books ... Vol. 15, no. 175. John Wanamaker. March 1897. pp. 342, 378. Retrieved 8 June 2023.   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  11. ^ "AUTHOR'S RITES WILL BE TODAY. Obit, Emma Wolf. Died, San Francisco, 30 Aug 1932". Oakland Tribune. 31 August 1932. p. 7. Retrieved 8 June 2023 – via Newspapers.com.

Further reading edit