Seducing the Demon - by Erica Jong (Paperback)

About the Book

This sublime and salacious story of one writer's long and successful career as a poet, novelist, and feminist provocateur is refreshingly direct--whether she is writing sex scenes or conforming to the rigid narrative of Alcoholics Anonymous.

Book Synopsis

Erica Jong's national bestselling memoir was probably the most wildly reviewed book of 2006. Critics called it everything from "brutally funny," "risqué and wonderfully unrepentant," "rowdy, self-deprecating, and endearing" to "car wreck."

Through her own experiences, Jong shares her triumphs and tribulations, embracing the complexity of womanhood and defying societal expectations. With a keen wit and unflinching honesty, she encapsulates the tension between artistic aspirations and the harsh realities of life, underscoring the transformative power of storytelling as a means of navigating the complexities of identity, relationships, and the pursuit of truth in a world often clouded by superficiality.

From her daring escapades to her insightful musings on society and womanhood, this book is a testament to the power of self-expression and the pursuit of personal liberation--A captivating and empowering read.

"Writing a book in your twenties that becomes a worldwide phenomenon hardly prepares you for the silence and despair of a writer's life. My life was not typical. But no writer's life is typical. By its very nature, writing is unique to every writer. Practicing writing is like practicing freedom. You are always on your way, never there. People are constantly asking, "How did you do it?" After a while you start to ask yourself. This book is an attempt to answer that question--regrets, mistakes, divorces, lawsuits and all."

Review Quotes

Praise, a Pan, and a Proposition for Seducting the Demon

"A zesty, savvy, freewheeling memoir of the writing life."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Brutally funny, searingly sensual, fercely honest."--New York Post

"Irreverent, risqué, and wonderfully unrepentant . . .We should all try to live up to [Jong's] standard of self-awareness."--Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Jong at sixty-four: Hot to talk about love, life, writing."--USA Today

"A car wreck."--Chicago Sun-Times

"Hilarious . . . rowdy, self-deprecating, and endearing."--The Washington Post

"I think [Jong] wants me. I think she's fantasizing about me."--Rush Limbaugh

"A steamy memoir."--New York magazine

About the Author

Erica Jong grew up on Manhattan's Upper West Side and attended Barnard College, where she majored in writing and literature, and she later received her MA in eighteenth-century English literature from Columbia University. She left halfway through the PhD program to write her groundbreaking first novel, Fear of Flying, which went on to sell more than thirty-seven million copies worldwide. She is also the author of many award-winning books of poetry, novels, and nonfiction including Sappho's Leap, Fanny, Any Woman's Blues, Fear of Fifty, and Fear of Dying. She lives in New York City and Connecticut. Her work has had a major impact on women's lives all over the world.