Leah Fritz - Obituary by Michael Bartholomew-Biggs

Leah Fritz - Obituary

by Michael Bartholomew-Biggs

Click here to read this article in The Guardian

Leah Fritz, who was born in New York, moved to London with her husband, the artist Howard Fritz, when she retired. She took up poetry and became a well-known figure at venues all over the capital


My friend Leah Fritz, who has died aged 88, was an American writer known for her support of the civil rights, peace and feminist movements. In her two books, Thinking Like a Woman (1975) and Dreamers & Dealers (1980), she appraised the women’s movement and celebrated the work of the leading activists Andrea Dworkin and Susan Brownmiller.

When Leah retired with her husband, the artist Howard Fritz, to live in Britain in 1985, she moved her focus on to writing poetry. She soon became a well-known figure at poetry venues all over London, particularly at the Torriano Meeting House in Kentish Town, where she was still a regular visitor until a few months before her death.

Born in New York to Harry Hurwit, an architect, and his wife, Esther (nee Bloom), a building manager, Leah went to Hunter College high school in New York and then to Syracuse and Columbia universities, although she chose not to complete her studies at either institution.

An assortment of administrative jobs followed, including at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, where she met Howard. Subsequently she began to write for publications such as Screw magazine, when it was a publication of “free love”, and the Village Voice. She continued her journalism while bringing up two children and, later, writing books.

Over the years Leah and Howard had always loved visiting London, and when they reached retirement age they decided to move there in order to focus solely on their art. Leah published five poetry collections in Britain, including From Cookie to Witch is an Old Story (1987), Whatever Sends the Music Into Time (2012) – whose cover featured an elegant and enigmatic painting by Howard – and Gone (2019), which included moving elegies about Howard, who died in 2018.

Her poetry often made skilful use of classical forms, but she also knew when and how to slip into free verse when required. Her writing was always frank and she tackled her themes head-on. She was also a sharp-eyed and forthright reviewer for several magazines. One of her poems was showcased in the Guardian’s Poem of the Week column in 2011.

Leah had a dry sense of humour and fondness for debate, and will be remembered as a loyal friend.

She is survived by her two daughters, Monica and Amy, and two grandsons, Leon and Luca.