Paul Auster, writer of 'New York Trilogy' has passed away at age 77.
Paul Auster, born in 1947 in Newark, New Jersey, had a thriving career as not only an acclaimed novelist, but also an essayist, translator, screenwriter, and poet. His work was published in over 40 different languages, making a significant impact on global literature.
Numerous media outlets reported that Auster's passing was confirmed by his fellow author friend, Jacki Lyden. Auster began his translation journey in France after graduating from Columbia University in 1970, and simultaneously published his own work in American journals.
His major recognition came with the publication of "The New York Trilogy" in 1987, which was a series of experimental detective stories. Auster's bestselling novels include "4 3 2 1," "Sunset Park," "The Book of Illusions," and "Moon Palace."
Last year, his wife, writer Siri Hustvedt, revealed that he was diagnosed with cancer in late 2022. She shared the news on Instagram, stating that he was undergoing treatment and that she was currently living in "Cancerland."
In 2022, Hustvedt posted an image of Auster and herself, along with an update on his condition. "Watching Paul, I have understood what grace under pressure looks like. Stalwart and uncomplaining, humor intact, he has made this time of his sickness, which has now lasted almost a year, beautiful, not ugly," she wrote.
Many of Auster's works delved into the concept of self, often featuring him in disguised forms, prompting some critics to ponder his usage of autobiography. Additionally, his work frequently explored the concept of chance and fate. In "4 3 2 1," one of Auster's main characters experienced four alternate lives.
In an interview with the BBC before the release of his autobiographical work "Winter Journal" in 2012, Auster articulated his perspective on chance and coincidence as the mechanics of reality. He expressed, "Unexpected things are happening all the time to everyone, and for the most part, life is about chance. There are very few necessary facts. I suppose the only one is that once you are born, you are destined to die, and everything else in between is variable."
He then recalled an event from his teenage years that profoundly shaped him and his writing. At age 14, while on a hike with a group of 20 boys, Auster's life was changed forever by a thunderstorm that claimed the life of one of his peers.
"This completely transformed my life," he recounted. "I think about it every day. It never leaves me. It was my equivalent of the soldier's wartime experience. I was young, and it left a huge mark on me. It was my lesson in the unpredictability of life, how fleeting everything is, and how rapidly things can change. In a single eye blink, the world is entirely different."
Auster lived in Brooklyn, New York, and received various honors, including the Prince of Asturias Prize for Literature in 2006. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a Commander of France's Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. The Booker Prizes account, X, paid tribute to Auster; "We are deeply saddened to hear about the death of Booker Prize shortlistee Paul Auster, whose work influenced countless readers and writers across the world. Our sympathies are with his wife, Siri Hustvedt, and his family."
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Paul Auster's literary style often included explorations of chance and fate, as seen in his novel "4 3 2 1" where one character experiences four alternate lives. His love for the arts was evident in his translation work and his own poetry.
Upon visiting France after graduation, Auster immersed himself in the French art scene, honing his own style and contributing to the French literary world through translation.
Source: edition.cnn.com
