James Flexner, The NY Times, 1984
Posted on 02/16/2003 6:24:02 AM PST by Pharmboy
James Thomas Flexner, a prolific and graceful writer on subjects from American art to steamboats to medicine, who achieved his greatest fame for prize-winning biographies of George Washington, died on Thursday in his Manhattan apartment. He was 95.
James Flexner, The NY Times, 1984
He wrote a four-volume biography of Washington, winning both the National Book Award and a special Pulitzer citation for the final volume, "Anguish and Farewell" (Little, Brown, 1972). He then wrote a one-volume abridgment, "Washington: the Indispensable Man" (Little, Brown, 1974). Two television mini-series adapted from these works were broadcast in the mid-1980's.
Mr. Flexner wrote a total of 26 books, all still in print. His first, "Doctors on Horseback: Pioneers of American Medicine" (Viking, 1937), included a portrait of his father, a pathologist who developed a cure for spinal meningitis. One of the last was a collection of poems he wrote in the 1920's.
His books on American art, "America's Old Masters" (Doubleday, 1939), and a three-volume history of American painting (the first volume was published in 1947 and the last in 1962) helped establish the subject as an academic specialty.
But his greatest impact was in demystifying Washington — revealing his weaknesses as well as his strengths and, in Mr. Flexner's own words, moving beyond "the marble image." A result was to make the first president even more appealing.
Mr. Flexner's Washington, scrupulously researched from original sources, never chopped down a cherry tree but did have intriguingly flirtatious relationships outside his marriage that stopped just short of the bedroom. Most important, he refused the absolute power that was offered to him, which, as Mr. Flexner pointed out, other revolutionary leaders, from Napoleon to Lenin, did not.
He portrayed a president not afraid to be a little unbuttoned, who enjoyed sipping Madeira, riding after hounds and relishing the latest gossip. Mr. Flexner related that Washington was perplexed by a French sculptor's decision to depict him in a toga.
Writing in The New York Times in 1968, Thomas Lask said that Mr. Flexner "brought the hero down from Olympus, if not to eye level, at least to where we can see him whole and see him plain."
Mr. Flexner was born in Manhattan on Jan. 13, 1908. His father, Simon Flexner, was director of research at Rockefeller University. Members of his mother's family, which had deep roots in Maryland, were among the founders of Bryn Mawr College.
One of his mother's relatives had married the philosopher Bertrand Russell, and another had married Bernard Berenson, the art critic. One of her good friends was Roger Fry, the foremost English art critic of his day. At an early age, Mr. Flexner traveled to Europe and moved in this exalted circle.
His earliest ambition was to deliver coal, because he envied the stunningly grubby appearance of the coal man who came to his house. When his mother broke the news that the visitor would have to wash when he returned home, the boy decided to be a writer, or so he said.
There was one problem: he was dyslexic and had difficulty learning to read and write. But one day, as he recounted in his autobiography, "Maverick's Progress" (Fordham University Press, 1996), he was sitting on a bench in Central Park and staring at a copy of "Peter Rabbit" when he suddenly realized that he was reading it. He wrote that the achievement "seemed to me so sensational that in my imagination the buildings rising along Fifth Avenue were leaning forward the better to see and admire."
Mr. Flexner attended the Lincoln School of the Teachers College of Columbia University, which his uncle Abraham Flexner helped found. He blossomed under the school's policy of rejecting rote learning and became adept at writing poetry. He wrote that he felt he had evolved from an "ugly duckling into a swan."
He went on to Harvard, where he graduated magna cum laude. He then worked for The Herald Tribune, where the unpredictability of each day's assignment made him feel like "a hero of romance." Next came a brief stint as executive secretary of the Noise Abatement Commission of New York City, where he learned that what was noise to one person was music to another.
Mr. Flexner struggled to write novels, but finally found success writing about his father and other heroes of American medicine. The resulting "Doctors on Horseback" reads almost like fiction.
But his reluctance to specialize and his lack of training in some of the fields he wrote about caused professionals to consider him guilty of "heresy, presumption and insanity," he wrote in his autobiography.
When, for instance, he turned to American painters for his second book, art historians dismissed him. He thought his history books were also poorly received by experts, despite his many good reviews. In The Times Book Review, for example, Henry F. Graff said "The Traitor and the Spy: Benedict Arnold and John André" (Harcourt, Brace, 1953) showed "literary power and intensity" and was "a complete guide to the labyrinth of Arnold's intrigue."
Glenn Speer, writing in The Washington Post, found Mr. Flexner's claim of being an outsider overstated, given his great success. "Why would such an accomplished man care about what others think?" Mr. Speer asked.
Mr. Flexner's wife, the former Beatrice Hudson, died in 1998. They had been married for 52 years. He is survived by their daughter, Helen, of Berkshire, England.
From his boyhood memories of visiting burlesque theaters to his lifelong love affair with the New York Public Library, Mr. Flexner was thoroughly a New Yorker. For years a sofa at his club, the Century, had a plump little pillow hand-embroidered with the words, "Jimmie Flexner Slept Here."
And so he had, four or five afternoons a week, for not more than 25 minutes.
For those who want to learn a bit about THE Founding Father, Washington: the Indispensable Man by the late James Flexner would be a terrific choice.
When Newt became Speaker he recommended that Americans read four books. Flexner's biography of Washington was one of the four books. (NB The biography is available as a four volume set, or a one volume abridged version.)
ML/NJ
We have a number of Flexner's books and are already beginning preparations for our celebration of Washington's birthday on February 22.
What a wonderful way to give George the recognition he deserves!
Here we collect statues and pictures of George (and Martha), as well as books on his life. On his birthday we buy madeira and my husband reads the "Rules for Civility" aloud.
What a guy George was!!
Now you've given me an excellent way to celebrate! We might substitute a good Virginia recipe for rum punch, but reading the "Rules of Civility" aloud would be terrific for my daughters (and a good remedial course for my wife and I!).
And, speaking of pictures of G&M, have you ever seen this dollar bill?
Fourth of July Fireworks: Martha Washington's Rum Punch
For Immediate Release
Contact: Judy Blatman
(202) 682-8840
- The original first lady creates a stir with her own Rum Punch Recipe - Celebrate July 4th with an original toast to independence!
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 26, 2001 - Martha Stewart may be today's doyenne of domesticity, but our country's first First Lady, Martha Washington, was an esteemed entertainer at her Mount Vernon home. For the first time, and with the help of our nation's Master Mixologist, Dale DeGroff, we offer up in the holiday spirit a version of Martha's famed recipe for her rum punch.
The Distilled Spirits Council in association with Mount Vernon recently unearthed George Washington's distillery at Mount Vernon and a new chapter in the story of the first family. After his presidency, George Washington became a successful distiller of whiskey while his wife, Martha, created her own cocktail recipes for party guests at their home in Virginia. Her Rum Punch was a colonial favorite, which she produced from local and imported Rum.
The Distilled Spirits Council and master mixologist, Dale DeGroff have adapted the recipe to give you a refreshing taste of history you can re-create in your backyard this July 4th holiday:
Martha Washington's Rum Punch:
(Serving 6-10)
3 oz. White Rum
3 oz. Dark Rum
3 oz. Orange Curacao
4 oz. Simple Syrup
4 oz. Lemon Juice
4 oz. Fresh Orange Juice
3 Lemons quartered
1 Orange quartered
½ Tsp. Grated nutmeg
3 Cinnamon sticks (broken)
6 Cloves
12 oz. Boiling water
Preparation:
In a container, mash the orange, lemons, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and nutmeg. Add the syrup, lemon, and orange juices.
Pour the boiling water over the mixture in the container.
Let cool for a few minutes (to allow the spices to open).
When cool, add the White rum, Dark rum, and Orange Curacao. Strain well into a pitcher or punch bowl (to removes all of the spice marinade).
Serve over ice in goblets and decorate with wheels of lemon and orange.
Martha's Rum Punch is a perfect fit for Independence Day.
It is great for large barbecue celebrations as well as intimate and quiet afternoons over hors d'oeuvres. In any case, the best way to celebrate is with a simple cocktail. So, grab a goblet, fill it with punch, and salute our founding fathers with this classic recipe. From Mount Vernon to your backyard, Martha puts the punch in history! As always, drink sensibly and responsibly.
Note to Editor: Dale DeGroff is widely acknowledged as America's foremost master mixologist and one of the world's leading authorities on the cocktail. His 20-year career as a bartender included stints at LA's Hotel Bel Air, New York City's Gracie Mansion and the world-famous Rainbow Room. For one-on-one interviews please call Peter Malachi/David Abrams at Nike Communications at 646-654-3430/646-654-3421.
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