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{{Short description|American writer and storyteller (1926–2001)}}
{{Unreferenced|date=September 2009}}
{{Inappropriate tone|date=October 2009}}
{{More citations needed|date=October 2022}}
'''Spencer Holst''' (1926 - 2001) was an [[United States|American]] writer and[[storyteller]].
'''Spencer Holst''' (July 7, 1926 – November 23, 2001) was an American writer and [[Storytelling|storyteller]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Monroe Street Monster |url=http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/holst_spencer/00index.html |website=Department of Mathematics}}</ref>
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Though he published several collections of stories, as well as volumes of translations, Holst was known primarily for the captivating live performances of his work that he regularly conducted, particularly in the [[New York City]] area, in a distinctive mellifluous, rhythmically cadenced voice. In his heyday he was often heard on the radio on New York's listener-sponsored radio station, [[WBAI]].
Although he published several collections of stories and volumes of translations, Holst was known primarily for the live performances of his work that he regularly conducted, particularly in the [[New York City]] area, in a distinctive mellifluous, rhythmically cadenced voice. In his heyday he was often heard on New York's listener-sponsored radio station, [[WBAI]].


For many years until his death, he lived at Westbeth Artists Housing in NYC. In addition to presenting readings there, he exhibited his watercolour paintings, many based on invented calligraphic motifs. The paintings were often shown with lengthy titles attached, some were small stories in themselves.
For many years until his death, he lived at [[Westbeth Artists Community]] in NYC.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Shapiro |first=Harvey |date=2001-12-05 |title=Spencer Holst, 75, Writer and Teller of Fables |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/05/arts/spencer-holst-75-writer-and-teller-of-fables.html |access-date=2023-08-25 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In addition to presenting readings there, he exhibited his watercolour paintings, many based on invented calligraphic motifs. The paintings were often shown with lengthy titles attached, some were small stories in themselves.


The typical Holst story might be a gentle but twisted fable, such as the tale of a frog who, having become addicted to morphine during a laboratory experiment, was rejected by the woman whose kiss transformed him back into a prince because he was, after all, only a junkie. Holst also wrote a number of paragraph-length prose pieces, which distilled a brief scene or anecdote into a glimmering, evanescent [[koan]].
The typical Holst story might be a gentle but a twisted fable,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Holst, Spencer 1925(?)-2001 {{!}} Encyclopedia.com |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/holst-spencer-1925-2001 |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=www.encyclopedia.com}}</ref> such as the tale of a frog who, having become addicted to morphine during a laboratory experiment, was rejected by the woman whose kiss transformed him back into a prince because, after all, he was only a junkie. Holst also wrote a number of paragraph-length prose pieces, which distilled a brief scene or anecdote into a [[koan]].


==Selected works==
==Selected works==


*''Thirteen Essays / Sixty Drawings'' (1960) [Self Published] by Spencer Holst and drawings by Beatte Wheeler
*On'' Demons'' (chapbook) (1970)
*''On Demons'' (chapbook) (1970)
*''The Language of Cats and Other Stories'' (1971)
*''Spencer Holst Stories'' (1976)
*''The Language of Cats and Other Stories'' (1971) {{ISBN|0841500797}}
*''Spencer Holst Stories'' (1976) {{ISBN|0818006226}} Winner of the Rosenthal Literary Award by the American Academy of Arts & Letters
⚫
*''The Zebra Storyteller'' (1993)
*''Something to Read to Someone/16 Drawings'' (with Beate Wheeler) (1980) {{ISBN|0930794346}}
⚫
*''Brilliant Silence'' (2000)
⚫
*''The Zebra Storyteller'' (1993){{ISBN|0882681249}}
⚫
*''Brilliant Silence'' (2000) {{ISBN|1581770553}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=58496 Spencer Holst archive at University of Texas, El Paso]
* [https://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=58495 ''Searching for Spencer Holst'' by Wendy Freedman]

{{Authority control}}


{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
| NAME = Holst, Spencer
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1926
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH = 2001
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holst, Spencer}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Holst, Spencer}}
[[Category:American painters]]
[[Category:20th-century American painters]]
[[Category:American male painters]]
[[Category:American performance artists]]
[[Category:American performance artists]]
[[Category:American short story writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American short story writers]]
[[Category:American storytellers]]
[[Category:American storytellers]]
[[Category:Radio personalities from New York City]]
[[Category:Radio personalities from New York City]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:2001 deaths]]
[[Category:Painters from New York City]]

[[Category:20th-century American male artists]]

{{US-story-writer-stub}}

Latest revision as of 18:16, 3 August 2024

Spencer Holst (July 7, 1926 – November 23, 2001) was an American writer and storyteller.[1]

Although he published several collections of stories and volumes of translations, Holst was known primarily for the live performances of his work that he regularly conducted, particularly in the New York City area, in a distinctive mellifluous, rhythmically cadenced voice. In his heyday he was often heard on New York's listener-sponsored radio station, WBAI.

For many years until his death, he lived at Westbeth Artists Community in NYC.[2] In addition to presenting readings there, he exhibited his watercolour paintings, many based on invented calligraphic motifs. The paintings were often shown with lengthy titles attached, some were small stories in themselves.

The typical Holst story might be a gentle but a twisted fable,[3] such as the tale of a frog who, having become addicted to morphine during a laboratory experiment, was rejected by the woman whose kiss transformed him back into a prince because, after all, he was only a junkie. Holst also wrote a number of paragraph-length prose pieces, which distilled a brief scene or anecdote into a koan.

Selected works

[edit]
  • Thirteen Essays / Sixty Drawings (1960) [Self Published] by Spencer Holst and drawings by Beatte Wheeler
  • On Demons (chapbook) (1970)
  • The Language of Cats and Other Stories (1971) ISBN 0841500797
  • Spencer Holst Stories (1976) ISBN 0818006226 Winner of the Rosenthal Literary Award by the American Academy of Arts & Letters
  • Something to Read to Someone/16 Drawings (with Beate Wheeler) (1980) ISBN 0930794346
  • The Zebra Storyteller (1993)ISBN 0882681249
  • Brilliant Silence (2000) ISBN 1581770553

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "The Monroe Street Monster". Department of Mathematics.
  2. ^ Shapiro, Harvey (2001-12-05). "Spencer Holst, 75, Writer and Teller of Fables". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
  3. ^ "Holst, Spencer 1925(?)-2001 | Encyclopedia.com". www.encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2023-08-25.
[edit]
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