Author. His celeberated 1967 book, "Stop-Time," an unsentimental chronicle of his painfully nomadic, episodic childhood, became the basis for modern confessional memoirs. His work appeared in The New Yorker, Esquire, GQ, Harper's Magazine and Partisan Review; many of these stories were collected in "Dogs Bark, But the Caravan Rolls On." His final book, published in 2004, was "Time and Tide," a personal tour of the history and landscape of his cherished second home, Nantucket Island. Born in New York City, he was an accomplished jazz pianist who played in New York City clubs for several years while writing; moved to Nantucket for a number of years where he wrote short stories for magazines; began his academic career accidently in 1978 as a last-minute replacement at the University of Iowa where he found he had a knack for teaching and went on to positions at George Mason University, Brandeis and M.I.T., before becoming director of the literature program at the National Endowment for the Arts from 1982 to 1987. Then moved to Iowa in 1987 where he mentored scores of young writers, many of whom became successful novelists, during his 18 years as head of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, one of the country's most prestigious creative-writing programs. His numerous awards, included a Chevalier of Arts and Letters from the French government and a 1986 Grammy Award for the album liner notes to "The Voice," recorded by Frank Sinatra.
Author. His celeberated 1967 book, "Stop-Time," an unsentimental chronicle of his painfully nomadic, episodic childhood, became the basis for modern confessional memoirs. His work appeared in The New Yorker, Esquire, GQ, Harper's Magazine and Partisan Review; many of these stories were collected in "Dogs Bark, But the Caravan Rolls On." His final book, published in 2004, was "Time and Tide," a personal tour of the history and landscape of his cherished second home, Nantucket Island. Born in New York City, he was an accomplished jazz pianist who played in New York City clubs for several years while writing; moved to Nantucket for a number of years where he wrote short stories for magazines; began his academic career accidently in 1978 as a last-minute replacement at the University of Iowa where he found he had a knack for teaching and went on to positions at George Mason University, Brandeis and M.I.T., before becoming director of the literature program at the National Endowment for the Arts from 1982 to 1987. Then moved to Iowa in 1987 where he mentored scores of young writers, many of whom became successful novelists, during his 18 years as head of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, one of the country's most prestigious creative-writing programs. His numerous awards, included a Chevalier of Arts and Letters from the French government and a 1986 Grammy Award for the album liner notes to "The Voice," recorded by Frank Sinatra.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
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