Daphne Miriam Merkin, born May 30, 1954, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a noted American literary critic, essayist, and novelist. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish family in New York City, she has contributed regularly to prestigious publications including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, Elle, Vogue, and Tablet Magazine. Her essays often explore personal themes such as depression, family dynamics, and cultural identity, with notable pieces including a 2014 New York Times op-ed defending Woody Allen amid abuse allegations, which drew significant controversy and criticism for downplaying the accusations by Dylan Farrow. Merkin's books include the debut novel 'Enchantment' (1985); 'The Bad Parts' (1986); the satirical novel 'The Fame Lunches' (2005); the essay collection 'Dreaming of Hitler' (1999); the memoir 'This Close to Happy' (2017), detailing her lifelong battle with clinical depression and suicide attempts; and 'The Cost of Living: A Working Autobiography' (2020), reflecting on her Hasidic upbringing and family, including her brother J. Ezra Merkin, a financier implicated in the Bernie Madoff scandal.