Tristan Egolf facts for kids

Tristan Egolf (born December 19, 1971 – died May 7, 2005) was an American writer. He wrote novels and was also known for speaking up about important issues as a political activist.

Early Life and Inspiration

Tristan Egolf was born in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain. His mother was a painter, and his father was a journalist. He had a younger sister, Gretchen Egolf, who became an actress.

When Tristan was a child, his parents divorced. He took the last name of his stepfather, Gary Egolf. He spent time growing up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He also visited his father in Indiana during the summers. These places later inspired his writing.

Tristan finished high school in Landisville, Pennsylvania, in 1990. He then briefly went to Temple University in Philadelphia.

Music and Moving to Paris

Tristan Egolf decided to leave college. He joined a punk rock band first called "Freak Thing," and later "Kitschchao." The band released one single, but after a while, it broke up.

Tristan then wanted to focus on his writing. He moved to Paris, France. He felt Paris was the best place to write about Kentucky, which was where his first novel, Lord of the Barnyard, would be set. For about 18 months, he wrote during the day. To earn money for rent, he played guitar in Irish bars. He also played music on the Pont des Arts, a famous bridge in Paris.

Writing Career

While in Paris, Tristan Egolf met Marie Modiano. Her father was Patrick Modiano, a famous French writer who won the Nobel Prize in Literature. Patrick Modiano helped Tristan get his first novel published in France in 1998. This happened after more than 70 publishers in the United States had said no to his book.

His first book, Lord of the Barnyard, was then published in the United Kingdom and the United States. It received good reviews from critics around the world. His second book, Skirt and the Fiddle, came out in 2002. It was also well-received. His third novel, Kornwolf, was published after he passed away. Tristan was also working on a movie script for Lord of the Barnyard, but he did not finish it.

Political Activism

Besides his writing, Tristan Egolf was also known for his work as a political activist. This means he actively worked to bring about change in society and government. He spoke out about issues he cared about.

Death

Tristan Egolf passed away on May 7, 2005. He died in his apartment in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This was shortly after he finished writing his last book, Kornwolf. He had two daughters. One was seven years old, born in France, and the other was nine months old, born in the United States.

See also

In Spanish: Tristan Egolf para niños