American author pens words. - Paul Auster passed away due to lung cancer: a mournful farewell for a meticulous author.
Paul Auster began writing meticulously, with each draft being penned by hand before being transferred to a typewriter. On average, Auster would complete one page each day, sometimes two if he was fortunate, or even half a page. Across various decades, Auster produced a substantial body of work including novels, poetry, essays, songs, and screenplays, boasting many worldwide bestsellers like "The New York Trilogy" and "The Book of Illusions".
Regretfully, US Author Paul Auster Has Died at 77
Auster garnered a multitude of awards for his creations, becoming a highly sought-after and successful writer in his country. Tragically, Auster has now passed away at the age of 77 due to the repercussions of cancer in his home in Brooklyn, New York, as reported by both the New York Times and the British Guardian, citing his confidant Jacki Lyden. He had battled lung cancer for over two years.
As the end of his life approached, several of his larger works were published, such as the 1,000-page novel "4 3 2 1" from 2017 and the 800-page biography "In Flames" (original title: "Burning Boy") on the US author Stephen Crane (1871-1900). Auster humorously referred to the latter as a "new mountain of the Rocky Mountains."
He was born in 1947 as the son of Jewish migrants in Newark, New York, determined to become a writer since his teenage years. Studying literature in New York and France, he supported himself through teaching roles and translation work. His initial marriage ultimately crumbled. However, his famous turnaround came with the "New York Trilogy," three unconnected detective stories named "City of Glass," "Drop Shadow," and "Behind Closed Doors," markedly successful in the mid-1980s. This ultimately catapulted him into being a renowned, award-winning author with novels such as "Moon Over Manhattan," "Mr. Vertigo," and "The Book of Illusions."
European Adoration for His Characters
His characters, often based on his biographical experiences, are unconventionally complex individuals who find themselves in endless pits of uncertainty pursuing their identities. Once more, it's the unexpected, a surreal turn that directs their fates and provides connections for attending discussions on art and culture, individuality, life, and death.
Auster's books have been translated into numerous languages, yet he was more highly acclaimed in Europe. Auster declared that he was "obsessed" with writing, remarking that it wasn't a conscious choice but a necessity. "For me, writing isn't an act of freedom; it's a matter of survival." However, writing was also a tireless ordeal for him. "It's the most demanding thing I can envision."
Auster resided in Brooklyn, New York, for nearly fifty years, where many of his stories were set. His spouse Siri Hustvedt has a thriving writing career, and their 1987-born daughter Sophie is a successful singer and actress.
Following his cancer diagnosis, Auster underwent various medicinal treatments, as mentioned by the Guardian only last year during the introduction of his latest work "Baumgartner." "Regretfully, I think this might be my final piece. However, even if this is the conclusion, it was worth it - I depart surrounded by an abundance of human kindness among my friends."
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Source: www.stern.de
