Writer, Poet. Born in Tacoma, Washington and raised there and later in Eugene, Oregon, Brautigan enjoyed the height of his literary fame in the 1960's and 1970's. While his early writings were more personal, his later efforts captured the spirit of the youth and cultural revolutions of San Francisco and the denouement of the Beat period. While he wrote prodigiously, four books rank among his best known. 1967 saw the debut of his novel "Trout Fishing in America". The novel "In Watermelon Sugar" and a book of poems "The Pill versus the Springhill Mine Disaster" emerged the following year, and in 1971 his acclaimed collection of short stories "Revenge of the Lawn" arrived on bookshelves. His difficult childhood, which included poverty and several stepfather figures may have informed his naive, passive-voice writer's vantage point, while a 1950's stay at Oregon State Mental Hospital where he was treated for schizophrenia and clinical depression may also have played a role. As an older adult, he fought alcoholism and depression at length. Brautigan was twice married; first to Virginia Dionne Alder, the mother of his daughter Ianthe, and later to Akiko Yoshimura. He ended his life with a borrowed .44 Magnum in his house in Bolinas, California at age 49, leaving no note. Despite his difficulties, Brautigan's literary legacy includes a book of short stories, 10 poetry collections, 10 novels, several volumes of collected works, and an album.
Writer, Poet. Born in Tacoma, Washington and raised there and later in Eugene, Oregon, Brautigan enjoyed the height of his literary fame in the 1960's and 1970's. While his early writings were more personal, his later efforts captured the spirit of the youth and cultural revolutions of San Francisco and the denouement of the Beat period. While he wrote prodigiously, four books rank among his best known. 1967 saw the debut of his novel "Trout Fishing in America". The novel "In Watermelon Sugar" and a book of poems "The Pill versus the Springhill Mine Disaster" emerged the following year, and in 1971 his acclaimed collection of short stories "Revenge of the Lawn" arrived on bookshelves. His difficult childhood, which included poverty and several stepfather figures may have informed his naive, passive-voice writer's vantage point, while a 1950's stay at Oregon State Mental Hospital where he was treated for schizophrenia and clinical depression may also have played a role. As an older adult, he fought alcoholism and depression at length. Brautigan was twice married; first to Virginia Dionne Alder, the mother of his daughter Ianthe, and later to Akiko Yoshimura. He ended his life with a borrowed .44 Magnum in his house in Bolinas, California at age 49, leaving no note. Despite his difficulties, Brautigan's literary legacy includes a book of short stories, 10 poetry collections, 10 novels, several volumes of collected works, and an album.
Bio by: sr/ks
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