The memoirist and writer’s muse Anne R. Dick was born 94 years ago
(Craig Lee for The New York Times)
The third wife of the legendary Philip K. Dick, Anne R. Dick (born January 27, 1927) crafted one of the seminal works on the influential author, THE SEARCH FOR PHILIP K. DICK. The personal memoir and biography follows Philip K. Dick from childhood through the course of their marriage (1958-1964), which also coincided with arguably his most fertile creative period. During that time, he penned 17 novels, including several of his most celebrated works: The Man in the High Castle, The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, Martian Time-Slip, Confessions of a Crap Artist, Dr. Bloodmoney, and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Anne Dick, as the custom jewelry maker Rubenstein, encompassed a major plot element in High Castle and their children’s Barbies inspired the reality-altering Perky Pat dolls in Palmer Eldritch. The couple raised sheep, which are the prized possessions in Do Androids.
Immediately after his death, Anne R. Dick began the research for Search For Philip K. Dick, 1928-1982, the first Dick biography. It was completed in 1984 and first published in 1995 as a $120 hardback from Edwin Mellen Press. Thankfully the manuscript was given to all Dick biographers, allowing a unique insider’s account to an important literary figure. In 2009, Dick revised the work for an affordable self-published edition and then again for the current Tachyon Publications edition.
(Courtesy of Rubenstein Archives/The New York Times)
Shortly after their divorce, Dick began selling her sculptures and jewelry. Eventually, Dick became know as a pioneer in the American Crafts movement whose bronze jewelry has been exhibited around the world.
Dick’s other publications included seven collections of poetry and two additional non-fiction books.
