Monday, March 6, 2017

Gloria Vizinczey is 90

My wife Gloria is 90 and IF ONLY, my new novel, is dedicated to her. She has been the most important individual – as inspiration, editor and manager - of my life. You look at her photos as a young woman from the time when we met (she was 36 at the time) and you understand why In Praise of Older Women turned out to be such a lively novel. The articles reproduced here, especially the one written by her daughter Martha, give you a glimpse of our lives and her contribution. For the last few years I have to do some of the things she did for us - and I’m horrified to realise how hard she worked. The photos in which we look our age were made only a few days ago. As you can see we are still laughing, even after being together for over 54 years.


Here is the secret of enduring marriages: the couples must feel passionate about the same things. She was the first woman I met for whom literature was the most important thing in life. You have to be passionate about things outside of yourselves. Our favourite pastime was walking in the museums and great churches of Europe.  She is also the most intelligent woman I have ever met.