Adam Johnson (writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adam Johnson
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Johnson in 2006
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| Born | July 12, 1967 South Dakota, U.S. |
| Occupation | Author, lecturer |
| Education | Arizona State University, Tempe (BA) McNeese State University (MFA) Florida State University (PhD) |
| Genre | Fiction |
| Notable awards | Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award |
Adam Johnson, born on July 12, 1967, is an American writer. He writes both novels and short stories. He won the Pulitzer Prize in 2013 for his novel The Orphan Master's Son. He also won the National Book Award in 2015 for his collection of stories called Fortune Smiles. Today, he teaches English and creative writing at Stanford University.
Contents
Early Life and Background
Johnson was born in South Dakota. He is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. He grew up in Tempe, Arizona and went to Marcos de Niza High School.
Education and Learning
Johnson earned a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Journalism from Arizona State University in 1992. He mainly studied with the fiction writer Ron Carlson there.
He then earned a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in writing from McNeese State University in 1996. He studied with writers like Robert Olen Butler during this time.
In 2001, he received his PhD in English from Florida State University. His main project was guided by Janet Burroway.
Writing Career and Teaching
Adam Johnson is a writer and a professor in San Francisco. He teaches creative writing at Stanford University. He started the Stanford Graphic Novel Project there.
He has been called one of the most "influential and imaginative" college professors. Business Insider also named him one of the "most impressive professors at Stanford."
Famous Novels and Stories
Johnson wrote the novel The Orphan Master's Son in 2012. A reviewer from The New York Times called it a "daring and remarkable novel." The book shows a look into North Korea and explores ideas of love and sacrifice. Johnson became interested in this topic because he noticed how propaganda is used.
He also wrote short-story collections like Emporium and Fortune Smiles. His novel Parasites Like Us won a California Book Award in 2003. His stories have appeared in popular magazines such as Esquire and Harper's Magazine.
Themes in His Writing
Johnson's stories often focus on characters who feel alone or disconnected from others. A reviewer noted that his stories often have a "melancholy melody of longing and loss." They show how life can be random and how hard it is to form lasting connections.
His work sometimes includes a sense of humor mixed with serious topics. One of his stories, "Teen Sniper," is about a young sniper who helps the police. Another story, "The Canadanaut," follows Canadian scientists trying to reach the moon before the Russians.
Awards and Recognitions
Adam Johnson has received many awards for his writing. These awards show how much his work is valued.
- 1992 Swarthout Writing Award
- 1999-2001 Stegner Fellowship
- 2002 Amazon.com Debut Writer of the Year
- 2003 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers series
- 2009 Whiting Award
- 2010 National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship
- 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for The Orphan Master's Son
- 2013 Dayton Literary Peace Prize for The Orphan Master's Son
- 2014 Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award for "Nirvana"
- 2015 National Book Award for Fiction for Fortune Smiles
- 2016 Story Prize for Fortune Smiles
See also
In Spanish: Adam Johnson (escritor) para niños
