Peter Sherwin Prescott (1935–2004) was an American author, literary critic, and book reviewer known for his sharp analysis and contributions to literary journalism. A longtime book critic for Newsweek, he shaped literary discourse for two decades.
Born in Manhattan, New York, he was the son of Orville Prescott, principal book critic of The New York Times (1942–66.) Graduating magna cum laude from Harvard University, he pursued further studies at the Sorbonne. He spent nine years as an editor at E. P. Dutton before reviewing books for Women’s Wear Daily, Look, and Newsweek. In 1978, he received the George Polk Award for criticism and later served on multiple Pulitzer juries for fiction.
Beyond journalism, Prescott authored several books. His first, A World of Our Own (1970,) reflected on his time at The Choate School. He later published A Darkening Green (1974,) a collection of essays, and The Child Savers: Juvenile Justice Observed (1981,) which won the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award for its raw portrayal of family court. In Never in Doubt (1986,) he examined the distinct role of book critics versus literary critics and reviewers.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Peter S. Prescott
Let’s hope the institution of marriage survives its detractors, for without it there would be no more adultery and without adultery two thirds of our novelists would stand in line for unemployment checks.
—Peter S. Prescott
Topics: Writing
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