Donald Lee Fanger, 94

On March 4, 2025, during a gathering of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, a tribute recognizing the life and contributions of the late Donald Lee Fanger was recorded in the official archives of the Faculty.

Donald Fanger often expressed that he was fortunate to have participated in the illustrious era of American academia. The numerous friends, peers, students, and readers who knew him can attest to his remarkable input, both formal and informal, as a scholar, educator, mentor, and citizen. His impressive education at the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard, along with his teaching positions at Brown, Stanford, and Harvard, undoubtedly placed him at the forefront of academic excellence. His career progressed quickly and assuredly, becoming a full professor while still in his 30s and dedicating nearly seven decades to cultivating vibrant communities within his disciplines and institutions.

During his early tenure at Brown (1962–1965), Fanger established a significant publication series that revived the finest Russian literary criticism. While at Stanford (1966–1968), he led the newly formed division of Slavic languages and literatures, setting it on a true path before transitioning to Harvard. Once at Harvard, he guided both his departments, Slavic Languages and Literatures and Comparative Literature, toward innovative projects and new directions, including the integration of contemporary literary theories. As one of the few comparatists proficient in Russian and with a deep understanding of Russian culture, he helped expand the inquiries within both of his fields. His ability to share his passion for literature allowed him to collaborate with colleagues across disciplines and, through his numerous reviews in widely read journals, to disseminate his insights to broader audiences. While nurturing his departments, he actively sought international talent, bringing students and scholars to Harvard. One such recruitment quest took him to Poland in pursuit of the notable young poet Stanisław Barańczak, after which he vigorously advocated for his acceptance at Harvard. Countless delightful dinner gatherings in the Fanger household offered warm welcomes to newcomers and visiting authors within the Harvard community. He continued to be a beloved conversational partner and engaged academic for the 26 years following his retirement in 1998.

Fanger’s excellence as an instructor was evident both in intimate seminar settings and larger lecture halls. His melodic baritone and articulate, precise language left a lasting impression in both environments, complemented by his thorough preparation, perceptive readings, and his remarkable ability to connect with students, regardless of their proficiency level. Collaborating with historians, he offered expansive courses on Russian civilization for the undergraduate Core Curriculum Program and delivered memorable lectures on various topics such as Dostoevsky, urban fiction, and comedy theory. His advanced seminars on Russian realism and 20th-century prose rigorously prepared students for careers in academia and research.

Fanger’s scholarly output (three books and over 40 articles, primarily centered on Russian literature) was deeply rooted in his lifelong intrigue with the nuances and often paradoxical nature of literary texts. Written in remarkably subtle, controlled, yet often brilliant prose, these analyses operated on multiple levels simultaneously. With his proficiency in several languages, sharp analytical skills, and a focus on patterns within and across texts, he breathed new life into literary works in surprising and innovative ways. He held a special appreciation for experimental fiction, which he employed to illustrate how established, canonical texts evolved from the authors’ bold advancements in theme and structure. Believing that criticism should match the sophistication of the material it discusses, he focused solely on challenging texts, framing his inquiries within broad historical, social, and cultural epochs. His initial work, “Dostoevsky and Romantic Realism: A Study of Dostoevsky in Relation to Balzac, Dickens, and Gogol” (1965), addressed the urban mythmaking of three independent writers and illustrated how Dostoevsky, aware of their influence, developed themes and techniques (the grotesque, the sensational, the unnatural) to create a poetics of the city, which he termed “fantastic realism.” Fanger’s subsequent book, “The Creation of Nikolai Gogol” (1979), remains our most insightful exploration of Russia’s foremost great prose author. Fanger identified the key aspect of Gogol’s life and work—elusiveness—and utilized it as a lens to interpret Gogol’s texts, biography, and literary surroundings. This groundbreaking work, which contributed to literary criticism, sociology, and biography, was honored with Phi Beta Kappa’s Christian Gauss Award in 1980. The following year, Fanger became a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

His third publication, “Gorky’s Tolstoy and Other Reminiscences” (2008), marked a transition to a new era, the early 20th century; introduced a new author, Maxim Gorky; and tackled a different literary dilemma: how we remember individuals who impact the literary landscape beyond their imaginative creations. Gorky, known as one of the most celebrated Russian authors of the early 20th century, is now mostly recognized for his advocacy of Russian culture during the upheaval of the post-Revolutionary era and his involvement in normalizing the literary policies of Stalinism in the early 1930s. However, Fanger focused on Gorky’s enduring works, particularly his perceptive memoirs of Tolstoy, Chekhov, and others, selecting the most insightful portions and, through enlightening annotations, transforming them into reflections on an author’s selection, organization, and interpretation. The book formed a case study on Gorky’s legacy, not merely as a character or symbol but as a skilled creative individual.

Fanger’s extensive collection of articles presents analyses of singular texts or contribute to the understanding of particular theoretical dilemmas. A considerable portion of these works addresses the primary players in the literary creation process: authors, readers, censors, and critics. Collectively, they embody a lifelong contemplation on the literary process and the role of literature as an institution.

For 46 years, Fanger was united in marriage to Margot Taylor Fanger, who departed in 2001. In 2006, he wed Leonie Gordon, who survives him. He leaves behind his three children with Margot: Steffen Fanger, Ross Fanger (married to Allyson Fanger), and Kate Fanger (married to Jeremy Jackson); six grandchildren; a stepson, Nicholas Gordon (married to Alison Haskovec); and three step-grandchildren.

A memorial gathering on November 8, 2024, brought together numerous friends and family members to honor Fanger’s humor, intellect, delightful personal nature, and extraordinary capacity for affection and camaraderie.

Respectfully submitted,
Julie A. Buckler
Michael S. Flier
Stephen Greenblatt
Justin Weir
William Mills Todd III, Chair