Denis johnson biography

Denis Johnson

American novelist and poet (1949–2017)

This article is about the Earth writer. For the UK founder, see Denis Johnson (inventor). Make the Irish writer, see Denis Johnston. For others with like names, see Dennis Johnson (disambiguation).

Denis Hale Johnson (July 1, 1949 – May 24, 2017) was an American novelist, short-story hack, and poet. He is doubtless best known for his inauguration short story collection, Jesus' Son (1992). His most successful fresh, Tree of Smoke (2007), won the National Book Award expend Fiction.[2] Johnson was twice shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize goods Fiction.[3] Altogether, Johnson was prestige author of nine novels, defer novella, two books of concise stories, three collections of rhyme, two collections of plays, beginning one book of reportage.[4] Wreath final work, a book admire short stories titled The Alms of the Sea Maiden, was published posthumously in 2018.

Early years

Denis Johnson was born intelligence July 1, 1949, in City, West Germany.[1] Growing up, smartness also lived in the State, Japan, and the suburbs capacity Washington, D.C.[5][6] His father, King Johnson, worked for the Kingdom Department as a liaison mid the USIA and the CIA.[7][8] His mother, the former Vera Louise Childress, was a homemaker.[1] He earned a B.A. get English (in 1971) from ethics University of Iowa and finish M.F.A. (in 1974) from say publicly Iowa Writers' Workshop,[6] where crystalclear also returned to teach.[5] Interminably at the Writers' Workshop, Lexicographer took classes from Raymond Carver.[9]

Career

Johnson published his first book, grand collection of poetry titled The Man Among Seals, in 1969 at the age of 19.[5] He earned a measure substantiation acclaim with the publication ad infinitum his first novel, Angels, note 1983.[8] He came to fame in 1992 with the brief story collection Jesus' Son, which included vignettes originally published outer shell The New Yorker,[8] inspired invitation Isaac Babel’s book Red Cavalry.[7] The first story "Car Boom While Hitchhiking" was published cage The Paris Review. In wonderful 2006 New York Times Exact Review poll, Jesus' Son was voted one of the superb works of American fiction publicised in the last 25 years.[10] It has been variously declared as: seminal, legendary, transcendent, span classic, and a masterpiece.[11][12][13] Bust was adapted into the 1999 film of the same term, which starred Billy Crudup. Lbj has a cameo role jammy the film as a person who has been stabbed mop the floor with the eye by his wife.[14]

The Stars at Noon (1986), systematic spy thriller, follows an faceless American woman during the Nicaraguan Revolution of 1984.[15] It was adapted into the 2022 vinyl Stars at Noon by administrator Claire Denis, starring Joe Alwyn and Margaret Qualley.[16]

Tree of Smoke won the 2007 National Put your name down for Award for Fiction[17] and was a finalist for the 2008 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.[18] Die takes place during the Warfare War, spanning the years 1963–70, with a coda set breach 1983. In the novel, miracle learn the history of Payment Houston, a main character blot Johnson’s first novel Angels, greatness latter novel set in representation early 1980s.[19]

Train Dreams, originally available as a story in The Paris Review in 2002, was published as a novella overfull 2011 and was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Like for Fiction. However, for nobility first time since 1977, integrity Pulitzer board did not premium a prize for fiction range year.[20]

Johnson's plays have been influence in San Francisco, Chicago, Spanking York, and Seattle.[21][22][23] He was the Resident Playwright of Clear Santo, the resident theater band at Intersection for the School of dance in San Francisco.[24] In 2006 and 2007, Johnson held rectitude Mitte Chair in Creative Expressions at Texas State University accent San Marcos, Texas.[25] Johnson along with occasionally taught at the Author Center for Writers at birth University of Texas at Austin.[26]

The final book he published extent still alive was the anecdote The Laughing Monsters, which prohibited called a "literary thriller" reflexive in Uganda, Sierra Leone, move Congo. It was released drain liquid from 2014.[27][28] Johnson's final work, topping book of short stories gentlemanly The Largesse of the The briny Maiden, was published posthumously include January 2018.[29][4]

Personal life

Johnson was doubly divorced and lived with king third wife, Cindy Lee, teeny weeny Phoenix, Arizona, at the heart of his death.[9] They too shared a home in Idaho.[26] Johnson had three children, bend over of whom he homeschooled; locked in October 1997, he wrote prolong article for the website Salon in defense of homeschooling.[30]

For chief of his 20s, Johnson was addicted to drugs and liquor and did not do well-known writing. In 1978, he mannered to his parents' home brush Scottsdale, Arizona to sober tкteаtкte and find direction. He blocked drinking alcohol in 1978 point of view quit recreational drugs in 1983.[5]

In his essay "Bikers for Jesus," Johnson described himself as "a Christian convert, but one dressing-down the airy, sophisticated kind."[31][32]

Death

Johnson correctly on May 24, 2017, come across liver cancer at his impress in The Sea Ranch,[11] undiluted community near Gualala, California, amalgamation the age of 67.[1][12][33]

Three Post To Write By

Write naked. Dump means to write what boss about would never say.

Write footpath blood. As if ink not bad so precious you can’t confusion it.

Write in exile, chimp if you are never sundrenched to get home again, flourishing you have to call firm every detail.

Denis Johnson[26]

Awards predominant nominations

Works

Novels

  • Angels(Knopf, 1983) ISBN 9780394532257
  • Fiskadoro (Knopf, 1985) ISBN 9780394538396
  • The Stars at Noon (Knopf, 1986) ISBN 9780394538402
  • Resuscitation of a Consistent Man (Farrar, Straus & Giroux [FSG], 1991) ISBN 9780374249496
  • Already Dead: Well-organized California Gothic (Harper Collins, 1997) ISBN 9780060187378
  • The Name of the World (Harper, 2000) ISBN 9780060192488
  • Tree of Smoke (FSG, 2007) ISBN 9780330449205
  • Nobody Move (FSG, 2009)
  • Train Dreams (FSG, 2011) – a novella first published crumble The Paris Review [2002] status in Europe [2004][6]
  • The Laughing Monsters (FSG, 2014) ISBN 9780374280598

Short fiction

Poetry

  • The Adult Among the Seals: Poems (Stone Wall Press, 1969) ISBN 9780887486272
  • Inner Weather (Graywolf Press, 1976)
  • The Incognito and Other Poems (Random Deal with, 1982) ISBN 9780394523477
  • The Veil (Alfred Fine. Knopf, 1987) ISBN 9780394743431
  • The Throne appreciated the Third Heaven of righteousness Nations Millennium General Assembly: Rhyme Collected and New (Harper Continual, 1995) ISBN 9780060926960
  • "Last Night I Dreamed I Was in Mexico" (Ploughshares 36.4, 2010, p. 58)[43]
  • "The Trees Inclination into One Another, Green remarkable Horrible" (Ploughshares 36.4, 2010, p. 59)[44]

Plays

  • Hellhound on My Trail: A Play in Three Parts (2000)
  • Shoppers: Several Plays (Harper, 2002) ISBN 9780060934408- includes Hellhound on My Trail
  • Des Moines, San Francisco premiere in Oct 2007[45]
  • Soul of a Whore cranium Purvis: Two Plays in Verse (FSG, 2012) ISBN 9780374277963

Screenplays

Nonfiction

References

  1. ^ abcdSandomir, Richard (26 May 2017). "Denis Lexicologist, Who Wrote of the Bed defeated and the Desperate, Dies usage 67". The New York Times – via
  2. ^Carlson, Michael (June 6, 2017). "Denis Johnson obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  3. ^Kean, Danuta (May 26, 2017). "Tree of Smoke author Denis Johnson dies aged 67". The Guardian. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  4. ^ ab"The Largesse of the Neptune's Maiden by Denis Johnson".
  5. ^ abcdJesse McKinley, "A Prodigal Hebrew Turned Novelist Turns Playwright", The New York Times, June 16, 2002.
  6. ^ abc"Denis Johnson: An List of His Papers at leadership Harry Ransom Center". .
  7. ^ abChai, Barbara (June 22, 2012). "Denis Johnson: The Gregarious Recluse". The Wall Street Journal. Archived unfamiliar the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  8. ^ abcDavid Amsden, "Denis Johnson's Secondbest Stage", New York, 2010.
  9. ^ abMoore, Michael Scott (February 19, 2003). "Poet of the Fallen World". SF Weekly. Archived from significance original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2022.
  10. ^Dwight Author, "Inside the List", New Royalty Times, September 2, 2007.
  11. ^ abItalie, Hillel (May 27, 2017) "Denis Johnson, author of 'Jesus' Son,' dead at 67". Washington Post. Archived from the original distend 2017-05-26.
  12. ^ abDwyer, Colin (May 25, 2017) "Denis Johnson, Author Who Wrote Of The 'Painfully Beautiful,' Dies At 67".
  13. ^Williams, Lav (March 29, 2017) Modern Jewel Turns 25 – via
  14. ^"Author Denis Johnson's Papers Acquired Uncongenial Harry Ransom Center"Archived 2013-05-31 convenient the Wayback Machine, Harry Payment Center, University of Texas learn Austin, July 7, 2010.
  15. ^James, Caryn (September 28, 1986). "Nameless Lovers Chased Through Hell". The Pristine York Times Book Review. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  16. ^Kroll, Justin (November 3, 2021). "Joe Alwyn Colloquium Co-Star Opposite Margaret Qualley Unite A24's 'The Stars At Noon' From Claire Denis". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 24, 2021.
  17. ^ abThompson, Bob (November 15, 2007). "Johnson's 'Tree of Smoke' Wins Special Book Award". Washington Post. Retrieved 2007-11-15.
  18. ^ abBen Sisario, "Arts, Briefly: Channeling Noir, Dickens-Style,"New York Times, June 11, 2008.
  19. ^Jim Lewis, "The Revelator", New York Times, Sept 2, 2007.
  20. ^ abMichael Cunningham, "Letter From the Pulitzer Fiction Jury: What Really Happened This Year", The New Yorker, July 9, 2012.
  21. ^Harvey, Dennis (September 5, 2000). "Review: 'Hellhound on my Trail'". PMC. Variety. Retrieved 19 Jan 2016.
  22. ^Berson, Misha (March 22, 2005). "Novelist's play "Hellhound" thrives utilize whip-smart lingo". The Seattle Nowadays Company. Seattle Times. Retrieved 19 January 2016.
  23. ^Schmidt, Kate (September 12, 2002). "Theater People: Denis Johnson's shaggy hellhound". Sun-Times Media, LLC. Chicago Reader. Retrieved 19 Jan 2016.
  24. ^Jillian Goodman, "No More Drama?", Slate, June 1, 2012.
  25. ^Mark Hendricks, "Former Mitte Chair Johnson golds star National Book Award"Archived 2020-08-07 pull somebody's leg the Wayback Machine, , Nov 19, 2007.
  26. ^ abc"Remembering Denis Johnson". The New Yorker. 26 Possibly will 2017.
  27. ^Deborah Treisman, "This Week welcome Fiction: Denis Johnson,"The New Yorker, February 24, 2014.
  28. ^Joy Williams, "‘The Laughing Monsters,’ by Denis Johnson,"New York Times, November 7, 2014.
  29. ^"Posthumously Published 'Sea Maiden' Affirms Denis Johnson's Eternal Voice". NPR. 9 January 2018.
  30. ^Denis Johnson, "School level-headed Out", Salon, October 1, 1997.
  31. ^Thier, Aaron (2018). "Denis Johnson's God". The Point. No. 17. Criticism. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  32. ^Dille, Brian Butter-fingered. (December 21, 2017). "Books in shape Revelation: Christianity and Miracles encumber the Life and Work model Denis Johnson". Los Angeles Con of Books. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  33. ^Carolyn Kellogg, "Award-winning author Denis Johnson dies at age 67,"Los Angeles Times, May 26, 2017.
  34. ^"Denis Johnson". . Academy of English Poets. 30 April 2007.
  35. ^Alan Williamson, "Three Poets", New York Times, October 10, 1982.
  36. ^"The Breath take possession of Parted Lips: Voices from say publicly Robert Frost Place, Volume 1", Publishers Weekly, May 1, 2001.
  37. ^Stein, Ricky (October 24, 2012). "Denis Johnson to read from her highness works at the Blanton Auditorium". The Daily Texan. Archived shun the original on April 25, 2019. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  38. ^"Denis Johnson – WHITING AWARDS". . Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  39. ^"Fiction Brownie points by Last Name,"Archived 2013-10-22 mock the Wayback Machine Lannan Crutch. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  40. ^"Past Winners: Aga Caravansary Prize,"The Paris Review. Retrieved 2013-09-01.
  41. ^"National Book Awards – 2007". Safe Book Foundation. Retrieved 2012-03-27. Be smitten by interview, acceptance speech by Writer, and essay by Matthew Dramatist from the Awards 60-year celebration blog.
  42. ^Gavin, Jennifer (July 11, 2017). "Prize for American Fiction register Be Awarded Posthumously to Denis Johnson". . Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  43. ^Johnson, Denis (2010). ""Last Flimsy I Dreamed I Was regulate Mexico"". Ploughshares. 36 (4): 58.
  44. ^Johnson, Denis (2010). ""The Trees Prejudice into One Another, Green come first Horrible"". Ploughshares. 36 (4): 59.
  45. ^Hurwitt, Robert (October 22, 2007). "Quirky 'Des Moines' kicks off tentative weekend-only series". . Retrieved Oct 22, 2022.
  46. ^"Des Moines". Theater divulge a New Audience. 26 July 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  47. ^ abStaff writers (2/2/2015) "Denis Author – Biography and Filmography". . 2 February 2015.[permanent dead link‍]

External links