Born in Brooklyn, New York, October 11, 1932 to poor immigrant Jewish parents from Romania. Graduated Stuyvesant High School (1950). Received BA from Brooklyn College (1954), MA, PhD in Romance Languages & Literatures from Brown (1956, 1959). Appointment at University of Michigan (1959-1982), 15 years in rank of Professor of Spanish and Comparative Literature. Guest Professsor at Hebrew University, Jerusalem (1969-70) and UCLA, (1980). Joined USC faculty (1982) and retired as Professor Emeritus (1997). Extensive periodic research residences in Spain, France, England.

Literary criticism and history of ideas in Spain, with emphasis on 18th to 20th centuries. Novel, poetry, and essay. Comparative Hispano-French studies.