When Jane Mayer’s father forbid her to work as a writer, she assumed a pen name and published book reviews in the Kansas City Star.
“It was the 1920s, and men in those days thought it made them look bad if women in their family worked. But she wanted to write, and proved that she could,” said her daughter, Mary Jane Bezark.
Jane Mayer, 97, a Chicago-based writer whose first novel “Instruct My Sorrows” was made into the 1946 movie “My Reputation” starring Barbara Stanwyck, died of heart failure Monday, Sept. 3, in Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Mayer was born in Kansas City and spent her childhood reading. “She was a George Bernard Shaw fan,” her daughter said.
While attending Vassar College in New York, Mrs. Mayer met Clara Spiegel, and the friends later co-wrote “Instruct My Sorrows” and three other novels published under the pen name Clare Jaynes. Their story, “The Coming of Age,” won a 1942 O. Henry Award.
Spiegel introduced Mrs. Mayer to her future husband, David, during a visit to Chicago. They married in 1927.
Mrs. Mayer used her own name when she wrote the 1958 novel “The Year of the White Trees,” about a young Chicago teacher in love with a famous violinist. She also wrote travel articles for the Chicago Tribune and short stories for Collier’s magazine, as well as two children’s books about Dolly Madison and Betsy Ross.
Mrs. Mayer wrote at home in an upstairs room off-limits to her children. “She kept her writing methods and ideas private,” her daughter said. “She didn’t like to talk about it. She didn’t want to use up the energy, the spark.”
After her husband’s death in 1960, Mrs. Mayer stopped writing. “She found it lonesome to stay home alone,” her daughter said. Mrs. Mayer became active in the Arts Club of Chicago, the Midland Authors Association and women’s boards.
Survivors also include two sons, David and Philip; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be private.
