Date of Birth: December 29, 1922
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Date of Death: December 16, 1998
Biography
William Gaddis was an American novelist born on December 29, 1922, in New York City. He is widely regarded as one of the most important American writers of the 20th century. Gaddis attended Harvard University but left before graduating to work as a fact-checker for The New Yorker. He later traveled extensively in Central America and Europe, experiences that enriched his literary work. Gaddis published his first novel, “The Recognitions,” in 1955. The book, though initially not well-received, has since become a seminal work in American literature, known for its complexity and depth. His second novel, “J R,” published in 1975, won the National Book Award for Fiction. Gaddis continued to explore themes of corporate greed and societal decay in subsequent novels like “Carpenter’s Gothic” (1985) and “A Frolic of His Own” (1994), the latter also earning him a National Book Award. William Gaddis passed away on December 16, 1998, in East Hampton, New York. Despite a relatively small body of work, his influence on contemporary literature remains profound.
5 Interesting Facts about William Gaddis
1. Gaddis spent most of his adult life in New York, although he traveled extensively in his younger years.
2. His first novel, “The Recognitions,” was published when he was 32 years old.
3. Gaddis was awarded the National Book Award for Fiction twice, for his novels “J R” and “A Frolic of His Own.”
4. He worked as a corporate speechwriter and freelance writer for many years before gaining literary recognition.
5. “The Recognitions” is often cited as one of the greatest American novels of the 20th century, despite its initial poor reception.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from William Gaddis
1. “Stupidity is the deliberate cultivation of ignorance.”
2. “Power doesn’t corrupt people, people corrupt power.”
3. “Justice? – You get justice in the next world; in this world, you have the law.”
4. “What is it they want from the man that they haven’t got from the land?”
5. “The novel is a game of space and time.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
The highest net worth achieved by William Gaddis was estimated to be around $1 million.
Children
William Gaddis had two children: Sarah Gaddis and Matthew Gaddis.
Relevant Links
1. [Wikipedia: William Gaddis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Gaddis
3. [National Book Foundation](https://www.nationalbook.org/people/william-gaddis/
