Charles Bowden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Bowden
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Charles Clyde Bowden
July 20, 1945 Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
|
| Died | August 30, 2014 (aged 69) Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S.
|
| Occupation | Writer, journalist |
| Awards | Lannan Literary Award for Nonfiction |
Charles Clyde Bowden (born July 20, 1945 – died August 30, 2014) was an American writer and journalist. He wrote non-fiction books and essays. He lived in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Charles Bowden was famous for writing about the tough situations and violence along the Mexico-United States border, especially near Ciudad Juarez.
Contents
Growing Up and School
Charles Bowden was born in Joliet, Illinois, on July 20, 1945. He spent his early years in Chicago and later moved to Tucson, Arizona. He went to Tucson High School. After high school, he studied at the University of Arizona. He then went to the University of Wisconsin. There, he earned a master's degree in American history. He almost got his doctorate but decided to leave during his final exam. He felt the questions were not good.
A Career in Writing
Charles Bowden worked as a writer for the Tucson Citizen newspaper. He often wrote about the American Southwest, a region known for its deserts and unique culture. He was also an editor for popular magazines like GQ and Mother Jones. His articles appeared in many other well-known magazines, including Harper's Magazine and The New York Times Book Review.
Bowden received several important awards for his writing. He won the Lannan Literary Award for Nonfiction in 1996. In 2011, he received the First Amendment Award from PEN Center USA. This award honors writers who protect freedom of speech. He also got an award from United States Artists in 2010.
He was best known for his powerful stories about the US–Mexico border. He wrote a lot about how the "War on Drugs" affected people's lives in that area. Earlier in his career, he focused more on environmental issues. He wrote about the beauty of nature and how to protect it for the future.
His Life and Passing
Charles Bowden was married and divorced two times. He also had long-term relationships with writer Mary Martha Miles and librarian Molly Molloy. He passed away in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on August 30, 2014. He had been sick for a short time. He is survived by his son and two siblings.
After he died, many of his writings were published. A special project called The Bowden Publishing Project continues to release his unpublished works. They also re-release some of his older books. His life and work were featured in a special magazine issue called Journal of the Southwest in 2019. A book about him, America's Most Alarming Writer, was also published.
Important Books and Works
Charles Bowden wrote many books and articles. Here are some of his notable works:
- Killing the Hidden Waters (1977) – This book explored water issues in dry lands.
- Blue Desert (1986) – A collection of essays about the American Southwest.
- Frog Mountain Blues (1987) – About the natural world and its challenges.
- Juárez: The Laboratory of our Future (1998) – Focused on the city of Ciudad Juárez and its problems.
- Blues for Cannibals: The Notes from Underground (2002) – A look at dark themes in society.
- Inferno (2006) – This book won an award and featured photographs by Michael P. Berman.
- Murder City: Ciudad Juárez and the Global Economy's New Killing Fields (2011) – Another book about the border city, with photos by Julián Cardona.
- El Sicario: The Autobiography of a Mexican Assassin (2011) – A unique book co-edited by Bowden.
Where to Find His Papers
You can find many of Charles Bowden's original writings and papers. They are kept at the Wittliff Collections. This is located at Texas State University in San Marcos. These papers cover his work from 1947 to 2007.
