John Fante
John Fante ( born April 8, 1909 in Boulder, Colorado; † May 8, 1983 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles ) was an American writer of Italian descent.
Life and work
1932 John Fante published his first story. He was encouraged to rise by the critic Henry Louis Mencken, which developed a long-lasting correspondence. 1938 appeared Fantes first novel " Wait Until Spring, Bandini " (Eng. " Wait Until Spring, Bandini " ) and 1939 sequel " Ask the Dust " (Eng. "I - Arturo Bandini "). This novel had a great influence on the American poet and writer Charles Bukowski, who on his model later said Fante was my God.
" Ask the Dust " tells the story of the Italian -born Arturo Bandini, who tried in Los Angeles of the thirties, to live as a writer. He drinks, is always broke, and then falls in love with the waitress Camilla - a love that turns into a love-hate relationship.
After "Ask the Dust" other novels, which are not able to build on the success of first- appeared. To make money, Fante worked then as a screenwriter. His screenplay "Full of Life" was created in 1952 nominated for an Oscar.
1978 blind Fante due to diabetes; later he also had to both legs amputated. As he lay dying in 1983, was Charles Bukowski one of the regular visitors to his hospital bed, he described his impressions in the poem "Death of a role model ." Only after his death several other novels and collections of short stories were published, and he posthumously received a "Lifetime Achievement Award " from PEN, Los Angeles.
Fantes writing style is characterized by clarity and closeness of the Umgangssprachlichkeit.
Works
- Wait until spring, Bandini (alternative: Go away, Bandini ). ( Wait Until Spring, Bandini ), 1938, ISBN 3-442-09401-1 ISBN 3-442-54196-4 and in the new translation.
- I - Arturo Bandini. (Ask the Dust ), 1939, ISBN 3-442-08809-7 ISBN 3-442-54185-9 and recompiled.
- Mixed feelings. (Full of Life ), 1952, ISBN 3-442-41193-9.
- Among brothers. (The Brotherhood Of The Grape ), 1977, ISBN 3-442-08919-0.
- Waiting for miracles. ( Dreams From Bunker Hill ), translated by Karl H. Mayer in collaboration with Barbara Pohl 1982, ISBN 3-442-08845-3.
- His way to Los Angeles. ( The Road To Los Angeles ), 1985 ( post office ), ISBN 3-442-09499-2.
- It was a strange year. (1933 Was A Bad Year ), 1985 ( post office ), ISBN 3-442-09217-5.
- West of Rome. (West Of Rome ), 1986 ( post office ), ISBN 3-442-09785-1.
- A bride for Dino Rossi. ISBN 3-88288-017-1.