1974: A Personal History

1974 is the first memoir by Francine Prose, the acclaimed novelist and critic, offering an intimate and reflective account of her personal, artistic, and political awakening during one of America’s most turbulent eras.

In her twenties, Prose lived in San Francisco, where she formed a complex and intense relationship with Anthony (Tony) Russo, the political activist who, along with Daniel Ellsberg, helped leak the Pentagon Papers, exposing government secrets about the Vietnam War. Their connection—both emotional and intellectual—unfolded through long, feverish nights driving around the city as Russo shared his experiences, paranoia, and ideals.

As the relationship deepened and eventually unraveled in New York, it became intertwined with the era’s broader chaos and transformation: the aftermath of the Vietnam War, the rise of women’s liberation, the Patty Hearst kidnapping, and a growing sense of national disillusionment.

Told with Prose’s signature intelligence, wit, and irony, 1974 explores not only her relationship with Russo but also how that turbulent year shaped her evolution as a writer and artist. The memoir becomes both a portrait of a young woman finding her voice and a snapshot of America redefining itself in the wake of the failed idealism of the 1960s.

Deeply personal yet historically resonant, 1974 is a poignant exploration of love, art, and identity set against the backdrop of a nation in crisis.