Barthelme, the Houstonian

3 days ago

Donald Barthelme was a unique writer from Houston, known for his original literary form.
He was a genre unto himself, with works instantly recognizable and often imitated.
Barthelme's life and work reflected Houston's lack of zoning and unexpected adjacencies.
He had a genius for concision, with short, sui generis stories like Aesop's fables.
His biography by Tracy Daugherty is lengthy, contrasting his compressed life achievements.
Born into a creative family in 1931, Barthelme had an unconventional youth and early career.
He discovered Waiting for Godot in 1956, which inspired his fiction writing.
Sixty Stories (1981) collects selections from his first eight books plus uncollected stories.
Barthelme's work is tied to 1970s events like Nixon, Vietnam, and nuclear proliferation.
He moved to New York, became a literary voice, and faced mixed reviews later in life.
Barthelme died in 1989 at 58, leaving a legacy of innovative short stories.
His titles and clip-art stories, like 'The Flight of Pigeons from the Palace,' showcase his concision.

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