Ralph Larsen

Ralph Larsen was born in Brooklyn, grew up in Western Long Island and lived in Manhattan most of his life. He studied creative writing at The New School and Hunter College. His instructors included the novelist Philip Freund who said he was "as good as any of the tough guy writers" of the 1930s. Anatole Broyard, former book reviewer of the New York Times, told him to stop taking writing courses and start writing and suggested Miss Marguerite Young as the only instructor who could possibly be of further assistance. In a subsequent course with her, Mr. Larsen's early efforts received high praise. She said he was "already as good as Hemingway."