Stephen E. Whitfield
Stephen E. Whitfield is one of the most respected scholars and literary historians of our time. A professor emeritus at Brandeis University, Dr. Whitfield is the author of more than a dozen acclaimed books, including several groundbreaking works of biography, cultural history, and even popular music. His writing and research has been embraced by a broad range of readers over the years, including scholars, students, and even the general public.
An Ohio native, Dr. Whitfield earned a BA in English Literature at Indiana University before attending Yale, where he received his MA and Ph.D. After completing his doctorate, he joined the faculty of Brandeis University in 1972, remaining there for nearly half a century. During his time at Brandeis, Dr. Whitfield taught courses on Harlem Renaissance literature and the American cinema, and his lectures were routinely listed among the university's most popular offerings.
Throughout the years, Dr. Whitfield developed a reputation as one of the preeminent experts on American popular culture and history. He is perhaps best known for his award-winning book "The Culture of the Cold War" (1996). In this groundbreaking work of cultural history, Dr. Whitfield delves into the social, economic, and political forces driving popular culture during the Cold War era. Moreover, he examines how the Cold War impacted the world in various ways – from popular music to movies and television, to the emergence of a Cold War subculture. This book is considered the definitive work on the subject and continues to be widely cited by scholars and students alike.
Dr. Whitfield is also the author of several biographies of popular figures, including "Lester Young: A Life in Jazz" (1992) and "Jesse Jackson: The Legend, The Man, The Future" (1994). These and other biographies demonstrate Dr. Whitfield's obsession with documenting the lives of individuals and understanding their impact on history. In addition to these works of biography, he has also written several books exploring the history of popular music, including "America in Beats: A History of Popular Music from the 1930s to the Present" (1998).
Dr. Whitfield's work can be appreciated by any reader. His writings are accessible and engaging, combining depth and breadth of knowledge and insight with clarity, brevity, and wit. Throughout all of his writings, Dr. Whitfield marries his passion for history and popular culture with a strong appreciation for how each affects the other. He is an incredible storyteller and his writing is infused with a vibrancy and energy that makes even the most arcane subjects accessible and entertaining.
In his later years, Dr. Whitfield continued to teach classes at Brandeis, while also writing and speaking on various aspects of history, literature, and popular culture. Additionally, he was honored multiple times throughout his career, including with the award for Lifetime Achievement in American Popular Music Studies by the International Association for the Study of Popular Music in 2018. Dr. Whitfield passed away in September 2020, leaving behind a remarkable literary legacy. In Stephen E. Whitfield, we find an unforgettable voice, whose work will continue to be remembered and revered for generations to come.
