Date of Birth: August 17, 1959
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Biography
Jonathan Franzen is an American novelist and essayist known for his incisive and often darkly humorous portrayals of contemporary American life. He was born in Western Springs, Illinois, and raised in Webster Groves, Missouri. Franzen attended Swarthmore College, graduating in 1981 with a degree in German. He later studied at Freie Universität Berlin on a Fulbright Scholarship. Franzen’s first novel, “The Twenty-Seventh City,” was published in 1988. However, it was his third novel, “The Corrections,” published in 2001, that brought him widespread acclaim and commercial success. The book won the National Book Award and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His other notable works include “Freedom” (2010) and “Purity” (2015). Franzen’s writing often explores themes of family dynamics, social criticism, and the impact of technology on human relationships. He is also known for his essays, some of which have been published in collections like “How to Be Alone” (2002) and “Farther Away” (2012).
5 Interesting Facts about Jonathan Franzen
1. Franzen was selected for the cover of Time magazine in 2010, a rare honor for a contemporary novelist.
2. He is an avid birdwatcher and has written extensively about bird conservation.
3. Franzen declined Oprah Winfrey’s book club endorsement for “The Corrections,” sparking a public controversy.
4. He has translated several plays by the Austrian playwright Karl Kraus.
5. Franzen’s novel “Freedom” was chosen by President Barack Obama as his vacation read in 2010.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Jonathan Franzen
1. “The writer’s job is to see the world as it is, not as it should be.”
2. “Fiction is a way of telling the truth.”
3. “The most important things in life are impossible to control.”
4. “A good novel is a good novel, point blank.”
5. “The more you know, the less you need.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At his peak, Jonathan Franzen’s net worth is estimated to be around $10 million.
Children
Jonathan Franzen does not have any children.
Relevant Links
1. [Jonathan Franzen – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Franzen
2. [Jonathan Franzen – The New Yorker](https://www.newyorker.com/contributors/jonathan-franzen
3. [Jonathan Franzen Interview – The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/books/jonathan-franzen
4. [Jonathan Franzen Books – Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3792.Jonathan_Franzen
