Jonas Alexander Barish

Background

Jonas A. Barish was born on March 22, 1922, in New York City, New York, United States where he grew up and where his lifelong devotion to the theatre and classical music began.

Education

Barish attended Harvard College, taking a bachelor's degree in 1942. After service in the Army Signal Corps, he received his master's degree and a doctorate from Harvard in 1947 and 1953, respectively.

Career

Barish devoted his career to education, first at Yale University as an instructor in English from 1953 to 1954. He then joined the University of California at Berkeley as an assistant professor and ultimately became a professor of English in 1966. He retired after more than thirty-five years in 1991.

During his career, Barish has also served in the Army Signal Corps in Europe during World War II.

Achievements

• Barish was best known as a historian who studied the theatre as well as the work of poet and playwright Ben Jonson. He edited several new editions of works by Jonson, including Volpone and Sejanus. Barish also wrote Ben Jonson and the Language of Prose Comedy. He edited a volume by Jonson contemporary William Shakespeare, All’s Well That Ends Well, and he penned The Ant ¡theatrical Prejudice.

Works

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• book

  • Ben Johnson: A Collection of Critical Essays 1960
  • The Antitheatrical Prejudice 1981
  • Volpone: Or, the Fox 1958
  • All’s Well That Ends Well 1964

Membership

Barish was a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Connections

Barish is survived by his wife, the former Mildred Seaquist, whom he married in 1964, and two daughters, Judith and Rachel Barish.

Wife:

Mildred Seaquist Barish

Daughter:

Rachel Barish

Daughter:

Judith Barish

Sister:

Grace Pologe