Leonard Wolf is a poet, author, teacher, and the father of Naomi Wolf. He is known for his authoritative annotated versions of classic gothic horror novels, including Dracula, Frankenstein, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, and The Phantom of the Opera.
Born in Vulcan, Romania (Transylvania), Leonard was originally named 'Ludovic', changed upon his arrival in the United States in 1930 with his mother, Rose-ita, and older brother, Maxim. Wrote and published numerous poems, short stories, book reviews and articles. Was a professor in 1975 of English at San Francisco State University (SFSU). Focussed on teaching poetry, but in reference to the creative process in broader terms, and embedded in a liberal humanist approach. Author of several books including A Dream of Dracula, Blood Thirst, 100 Years of Vampire Fiction (editor), Bluebeard : The Life and Crimes of Gilles De Rais, Doubles, Dummies and Dolls : Twenty-One Terror Tales of Replication (editor), Dracula : the Connoisseur's Guide, False Messiah, Horror - A Connoisseur's Guide To Literature And Film, Monsters: Twenty Terrible and Wonderful Beasts From The Classic Dragon And Colossal Minotaur To King Kong And The Great Godzilla, Quiromancia/ Chiromancy, The False Messiah, The Glass Mountain: A Novel, The Passion of Israel [By] Leonard Wolf. Interviews Taken and Edited in Collaboration with Deborah Wolf, Wolf s Complete Book of Terror (editor).
While teaching at San Francisco State University in 1967, Leonard started Happening House . Happening House was one of many organizations that originated with the Flower children of the Haight Ashbury and died with the death of Hippie in 1967. It was conceived as an alternate University, an Arts center and a place of learning. It often planned and sponsored social events such as softball games and free concerts in cooperation with the Haight Ashbury SwitchboardIt had intermittent connections with the Haight Ashbury Free Clinic.