George Steiner was a multilingual polymath who navigated the intersection of language, literature, and the philosophical consequences of the Holocaust. Born into a Viennese Jewish family in France, he spent his career moving across academic institutions and borders, challenging the boundaries of traditional literary criticism through his work in comparative literature and his extensive contributions as a journalist and essayist.
Early Education and Migration
Born in 1929 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Steiner was raised in an environment that prioritized linguistic agility and classical education. His father, a former banker, insisted his children learn multiple languages to navigate a precarious political climate. Steiner was educated at the Lycée Janson-de-Sailly and later the Lycée français de New York after his family emigrated to the United States in 1940. He became a U.S. citizen in 1944. His academic foundation included studies at the University of Chicago, Harvard University, and Balliol College, Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar.
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Steiner held numerous academic appointments throughout his life. He served as a scholar at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton and held professorships at the University of Geneva from 1974 to 1994, as well as roles at Harvard University and the University of Oxford. A founding fellow of Churchill College, Cambridge, he encountered initial resistance from the faculty there, yet maintained his position as an Extraordinary Fellow. His professional life also included work as a journalist for The Economist and a long-term contributor to The New Yorker.
Literary Criticism and Philosophy
His most notable work, After Babel, exemplifies his interest in comparative literature and the relationship between language and society. Steiner advocated for an interdisciplinary approach, believing that literacy required proficiency in both the arts and the sciences. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the British Academy, the Bavarian Academy of Fine Arts, and the Royal Society of Literature. His body of work earned him various distinctions, including honorary doctorates from the universities of Bristol, Salamanca, Bologna, Lisbon, Girona, and Paris Descartes.
Fast facts
- Born: 1929, Neuilly-sur-Seine
- Died: 2020, Cambridge
- Citizenship: United States, France, United Kingdom
- Notable Work: After Babel
- Education: Harvard University, Balliol College
- Religion: Judaism
- Language proficiency: French, German, English
Questions readers ask
What subjects did George Steiner study at university?
He studied literature, mathematics, and physics at the University of Chicago.
Did Steiner hold positions at major international institutions?
Yes, his employers included Princeton University, Harvard University, the University of Geneva, Williams College, and The Economist.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 1984
- Notable work: After Babel
- Affiliated with Princeton University, Harvard University and University of Geneva
- Educated at Balliol College, Harvard University and University of Chicago
- Worked as philosopher, novelist and translator
