Paul Auster - Audio Biography

Paul Auster, a renowned American novelist, essayist, and poet, passed away on [insert date] at the age of 77. Born on February 3, 1947, in Newark, New Jersey, Auster was known for his postmodern and metaphysical works that often explored themes of identity, chance, and the nature of reality.
Auster grew up in South Orange, New Jersey, and attended Columbia University, where he earned his B.A. and M.A. in comparative literature. After graduating, he spent several years living in France, where he worked as a translator and began writing poetry and essays.
In 1982, Auster published his first novel, "The Invention of Solitude," a memoir that explored his relationship with his father and his own identity as a writer. This work set the stage for his later novels, which often featured introspective protagonists grappling with existential questions and the unpredictable nature of life.
Some of Auster's most notable works include "The New York Trilogy" (1987), a series of interconnected novellas that play with the conventions of the detective genre; "Moon Palace" (1989), a sprawling novel that spans several generations and explores the relationship between art and life; and "The Music of Chance" (1990), a metaphysical thriller that examines the role of chance and coincidence in shaping human destiny.
Throughout his career, Auster received numerous awards and honors, including the Prix Médicis Étranger for "The New York Trilogy," the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay for "Smoke" (1995), and the Premio Principe de Asturias de las Letras in 2006. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in France.
In addition to his literary work, Auster was known for his collaborations with other artists, including the director Wayne Wang, with whom he co-wrote the screenplay for "Smoke" and its sequel, "Blue in the Face" (1995). He also worked with the artist Sophie Calle on several projects, including "Double Game" (1999), a book that blurred the lines between fiction and reality.
Auster's influence on contemporary literature was significant, with his work inspiring countless writers around the world. His unique blend of philosophical inquiry, noir-influenced storytelling, and postmodern experimentation helped to redefine the possibilities of the novel in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Paul Auster is survived by his wife, the writer Siri Hustvedt, and their daughter, Sophie. His passing marks the end of an era in American literature, but his legacy will undoubtedly continue to inspire and challenge readers for generations to come. Thanks for listening to Quiet Please. Remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts.

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Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Paul Auster, a renowned American novelist, essayist, and poet, passed away
on April twenty nine at the ageof seventy seven. Born on February third,
nineteen forty seven in Newark, NewJersey, Oster was known for his
postmodern and metaphysical works that often exploredthemes of identity, chance, and the
nature of reality. Oster grew upin South Orange, New Jersey, and

(00:22):
attended Columbia University, where he earnedhis BA and M in comparative literature.
After graduating, he spent several yearsliving in France, where he worked as
a translator and began writing poetry andessays. In nineteen eighty two, Oster
published his first novel, The Inventionof Solitude, a memoir that explored his
relationship with his father and his ownidentity as a writer. This work set

(00:46):
the stage for his later novels,which often featured introspective protagonists grappling with existential
questions and the unpredictable nature of life. Some of Auster's most notable works include
The New York Trilogy nineteen eighty seven, a series of interconnected novellas that play
with the conventions of the detective genre. Moon Palace nineteen eighty nine, a

(01:07):
sprawling novel that spans several generations andexplores the relationship between art and life,
and the Music of Chance nineteen ninetya metaphysical thriller that examines the role of
chance and coincidence in shaping human destiny. Throughout his career, Aust received numerous
awards and honors, including the priMedici Strange for the New York Trilogy,
the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplayfor Smoke nineteen ninety five, and the

(01:32):
Premio Principe de Asturias de la Leetrasin two thousand and six. He was
also a member of the American Academyof Arts and Letters and a Commandeer de
l'rre deare de Lehtre in France.In addition to his literary work, Aust
was known for his collaborations with otherartists, including the director Wayne Wang,
with whom he co wrote the screenplayfor Smoke and its sequel Blue in the

(01:52):
Face nineteen ninety five. He alsoworked with the artist Sophi Kal on several
projects, including Double Game nineteen ninetynine, a book that blurred the lines
between fiction and reality. Oster's influenceon contemporary literature was significant, with his
work inspiring countless writers around the world. His unique blend of philosophical inquiry,

(02:13):
noir influenced storytelling, and postmodern experimentationhelped to redefine the possibilities of the novel
in the late twentieth and early twentyfirst centuries. Paul Oster is survived by
his wife, the writer Siri Hustvett, and their daughter Sophie. His passing
marks the end of an era inAmerican literature, but his legacy will undoubtedly

(02:34):
continue to inspire and challenge readers forgenerations to come. Thanks for listening to
Quiet. Please remember to like andshare wherever you get your podcasts.