| Laura Z. Hobson | |
|---|---|
| Born | Laura Kean Zametkin June 19, 1900 New York City |
| Died | February 28, 1986 (aged 85) New York City |
| Occupation | Author |
| Known for | Gentleman's Agreement |
| Spouse | Francis Thayer Hobson (1930—1935) |
Laura Z. Hobson (June 19, 1900 – February 28, 1986) was an American novelist best known for her novel, Gentleman's Agreement. Born Laura Kean Zametkin in New York City, the daughter of Jewish socialist immigrants, she graduated from Cornell University. On July 23, 1930, she married Francis Thayer Hobson, owner of William Morrow and Company. In 1934, she joined the promotional staff of Time, Life, and Fortune.
In 1935, her marriage ended in divorce. In 1937, she decided to adopt a baby, Christopher. She became pregnant with her second son Michael in 1941, raising both children on her own.
After 1940 she devoted herself to writing. On April 27, 1947, her most famous work, Gentleman's Agreement, about a gentile researching antisemitism for a national magazine. reached #1 on The New York Times best-sellers' list and sold over 1.6 million copies. A later novel, Consenting Adult (1975), about a mother dealing with her son's homosexuality, was based on her experience with her son, Christopher. It was adapted as a made-for-TV movie in 1985.
Hobson died on February 28, 1986, in New York City.[1][2]