The Modern Novel

Biography

Donald Barthelme was born in Philadelphia in 1931. However, his family was from Texas and they moved back there (to Houston) when he was still very young, his father being a prominent architect and professor of architecture. Barthelme majored in journalism at the University of Houston. He was drafted into the army but served only a short time, as he was drafted the day of the cease-fire. He continued his studies (in philosophy) but took no further degrees. He was director of the Contemporary Arts Museum in Houston for two years. He moved to New York in 1962, to edit a short-lived magazine. He taught at various universities in New York and Boston and produced several novels and many short stories. They are generally in a post-modern style, playing with language and attacking authority structures. His brother, Frederick and Steven, are also successful writers. He died in 1989.

Other links

Donald Barthelme
Donald Barthelme
A Donald Barthelme Collection
Donald Barthelme – Writer (Selections From Donald Barthelme’s 60 Stories)
Some Questions about Donald Barthelme
Donald Barthelme’s Syllabus
Donald Barthelme’s Reading List
The Beastly Beatitudes of Donald B.
A brief survey of the short story part 16: Donald Barthelme
Obituary
Game (story by Barthelme)
Wrote a Letter…. (story by Barthelme)
Some of Us Had Been Threatening Our Friend Colby (story by Barthelme)
Interview