In 1970, when Jill Ciment was a rebellious teenager, she did something shocking. Dreaming of becoming an artist, Ciment signed up for classes with Arnold Mesches, a well-known painter whose work she admired. Respect grew into infatuation, and one night after class, she waited for the other students to leave, and approached him. When Ciment wrote “Half a Life,” she and Mesches had been together for more than 20 years. The #MeToo movement had unleashed a debate about sexual harassment and assault committed by men in positions of power.

---

Persons: Jill Ciment, Ciment, Arnold Mesches, “, ” Ciment, Mesches