Date of Birth: February 14, 1930
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Date of Death: January 25, 2017
Biography
Harry Mathews was an American author, poet, and translator, known for his experimental approach to literature. Born in New York City, Mathews was a prominent member of the Oulipo group, a collective of writers and mathematicians who create works using constrained writing techniques. He attended Princeton University and later studied music at the Curtis Institute of Music before turning to writing full-time. His works often defy conventional narrative structures, blending genres and incorporating complex wordplay. Some of his most renowned works include “The Conversions,” “Tlooth,” and “Cigarettes.” In addition to his novels, Mathews also published poetry and essays, and his contributions to literature have been celebrated for their ingenuity and originality.
5 Interesting Facts about Harry Mathews
1. Harry Mathews was the only American member of the French literary group Oulipo (Ouvroir de Littérature Potentielle).
2. He initially pursued a career in music, studying orchestral conducting before shifting his focus to writing.
3. Mathews’ novel “The Conversions” was published by Random House in 1962 and is considered a significant work of experimental fiction.
4. He was married to the artist Niki de Saint Phalle, with whom he had two children.
5. Mathews translated several works from French to English, including Georges Perec’s “La Vie mode d’emploi” (“Life: A User’s Manual”).
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harry Mathews
1. “The act of writing is the act of making soul, alchemy.”
2. “A novel is a mirror walking down a road.”
3. “The constraints I choose to work with are like rules in a game; they force me to be more inventive.”
4. “Every book is the wreck of a perfect idea.”
5. “A writer’s most important task is to make the familiar strange.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by Harry Mathews is not publicly documented, but his influence and contributions to literature remain invaluable.
Children
Harry Mathews had two children with Niki de Saint Phalle: a son named Philip and a daughter named Laura.
Relevant Links
1. [Harry Mathews Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Mathews
2. [Harry Mathews at Poetry Foundation](https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/harry-mathews
3. [Biography of Harry Mathews on Oulipo](http://www.oulipo.net/fiche/mathews
4. [Harry Mathews on Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16190.Harry_Mathews
