Gay Talese: His Life, Family, and Best Books

93-year-old Italian-American non-fiction writer, Gay Talese is famous for his in the film The Kingdom and the Power (1969). He is considered a pioneer of modern journalism and his articles, including “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold” (1966), are widely recognized as some of the greatest ever published in magazines.

He has been married to Nan Talese, a publishing executive for 65 years and they share two daughters. Despite the scandals that have trailed his career as a writer, his marriage has endured. He attributes the success of their relationship to the fact that his wife allows him freedom while he respects her. Furthermore, she is the only one who consistently gives his work a positive review.

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His Early Life and Education

Gay Talese was born on February 7, 1932, in Ocean City, New Jersey to Italian immigrant parents Joseph and Catherine Talese. Talese and his family were the only Italians living in Ocean City. The place was mostly Protestant-dominated, with only a handful of Catholic faithful. Talese’s father was a well-respected tailor who made suits for the high and mighty of the city, while his mother sold dresses.

He became the high school correspondent for the town’s local newspaper, thanks to the suits his father made for the publisher of the weekly newspaper while growing up. Despite not being an athlete or excelling academically, Talese enjoyed many privileges for having a column in the newspaper. However, his real passion was to become a nonfiction writer and not a news reporter.

His Italian roots influenced his upbringing, as his father did not allow him to play baseball like the other kids and he was not allowed to dress casually like the Americans. Instead, his parents made sure their son always appeared formally, a practice he has carried into his old age. Today, he is seen by many as an impeccable dresser.

Talese was rejected by over 20 colleges he had applied to, but his father’s influence helped him get admitted to the University of Alabama, where he graduated with a degree in Journalism in 1953. While at the university, he served as the campus newspaper sports editor.

Who is the Author Married To?

Gay Talese and his wife Nan Talese (Longreads)

Gay Talese is married to Nan Talese, who happens to be one of the first female editors of literary fiction. She comes from a family of significant influence. Her father, Thomas Ahearn, was a banker and had served in the government of the USA. Her mother, Suzanne, belonged to an illustrious family in Texas. Nan was the third child among her four siblings and showed dedication to her studies rather than following the unruly path of her older siblings.

In 1957, while Nan was studying Philosophy and Literature at Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart, her friend introduced her to Gay Talese. However, her parents didn’t approve of their relationship and considered Talese to be a rascal. The thought of their daughter marrying a writer filled them with concern. On the other hand, Gay Talese had no plans of marrying Nan because he believed that tying the knot would prevent him from pursuing his ambition. He authored the book “Thy Neighbor’s Wife” in 1981.

On June 10, 1959, Gay and his wife got married in Rome. She had gone against her parents’ wishes and convinced Gay to marry her. However, before they tied the knot, she made a promise to always allow him freedom. Irwin Shaw served as the best man during the wedding ceremony. For the past 65 years, their marriage has been a cocktail of experiences. Despite her husband’s excesses, Nan Talese has managed to cope, something that their two daughters find challenging to understand.

Meet Gay Talese’s Children

Gay Talese and his wife Nan Talese had their first child and daughter Pamela in 1964. Growing up with intellectual parents and being surrounded by books, she developed a creative career for herself as a painter. She paints full time and her works focus on rural landscapes and anything outdoors that catches her attention. If she wasn’t engrossed with paints and brushes, she believes that she would make a good stand-up comedian.

Catherine Talese is the second child of the celebrated author Gay Talese. She was born in 1967 and is three years younger than her sister Pamela Talese. It is most likely that she was named after her paternal grandmother whose name was Catherine too. She is a photographer and photography editor.

A Look at His Career and His Best Books

Gay Talese served as a tank officer in the US Army for a brief period after completing his studies at university. In 1956, he secured a job with the New York Times, starting as a copyboy and eventually becoming a reporter and a full-time writer. He later left the New York Times to work for Esquire.

In 1966, he wrote an article titled “Frank Sinatra Has a Cold”, which is considered to be the foundation of New Journalism. This piece has been reprinted multiple times over the years and was voted as the greatest nonfiction story in the history of Esquire. Talese has contributed to several publications including The New Yorker, Newsweek, and Harper’s Magazine.

All of Talese’s works are nonfiction, and he has spent time in some controversial places to get a good story. He has written several bestselling books, including “The Kingdom and the Power” (1969) which exposes the history and influence of the New York Times; “Honor Thy Father” (1971) where he delves deep into the workings of a mafia family; “Unto the Sons” (1992) where he tells the story of his father’s immigration to America from Italy; and “Thy Neighbor’s Wife” (1981), which examines the changing moral values of America from World War II to the AIDS epidemic.

Below are other books Gay Talese has written: