James Hynes
Encyclopedia
James Hynes is an American
novel
ist. He was born in Okemos, Michigan
, and grew up in Big Rapids, Michigan
. He lived for many years in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and currently resides in Austin, Texas
, where he has taught creative writing at the University of Texas
. He has also taught at the Iowa Writers' Workshop
, the University of Michigan
, Miami University
, and Grinnell College
. Hynes received a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Michigan and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
at the University of Iowa
.
His first novel, The Wild Colonial Boy, deals with terrorism in Northern Ireland
, but Hynes is best known for his three subsequent books, Publish and Perish, The Lecturer's Tale, and Kings of Infinite Space, which combine satire and horror. His most recent novel, "Next," was published in 2010. His reviews and literary essays have appeared in The Washington Post
, The New York Times
, Boston Review
, and the online magazine Salon.com
. In the 1980s he wrote about television for the Michigan Voice, Mother Jones
, and In These Times
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
ist. He was born in Okemos, Michigan
Okemos, Michigan
Okemos is an unincorporated community in Meridian Charter Township, Ingham County in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a census-designated place for statistical purposes and does not have any separate legal existence as a municipality. Local government is provided by the township...
, and grew up in Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids, Michigan
Big Rapids is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 10,849. It is the county seat of Mecosta County. The city is located within Big Rapids Township, but is politically independent.-Geography:...
. He lived for many years in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and currently resides in Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, where he has taught creative writing at the University of Texas
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. He has also taught at the Iowa Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
, the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, Miami University
Miami University
Miami University is a coeducational public research university located in Oxford, Ohio, United States. Founded in 1809, it is the 10th oldest public university in the United States and the second oldest university in Ohio, founded four years after Ohio University. In its 2012 edition, U.S...
, and Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
. Hynes received a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Michigan and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
His first novel, The Wild Colonial Boy, deals with terrorism in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, but Hynes is best known for his three subsequent books, Publish and Perish, The Lecturer's Tale, and Kings of Infinite Space, which combine satire and horror. His most recent novel, "Next," was published in 2010. His reviews and literary essays have appeared in The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
, The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Boston Review
Boston Review
Boston Review is a bimonthly American political and literary magazine. The magazine covers, specifically, political debates, literature, and poetry...
, and the online magazine Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
. In the 1980s he wrote about television for the Michigan Voice, Mother Jones
Mother Jones (magazine)
Mother Jones is an American independent news organization, featuring investigative and breaking news reporting on politics, the environment, human rights, and culture. Mother Jones has been nominated for 23 National Magazine Awards and has won six times, including for General Excellence in 2001,...
, and In These Times
In These Times
In These Times is a politically progressive monthly magazine of news and opinion published by the Institute for Public Affairs in Chicago...
.
Works
- The Wild Colonial Boy (Atheneum, 1990)
- Publish and Perish: Three Tales of Tenure and Terror (Picador USA, 1997)
- The Lecturer's Tale (Picador USA, 2001)
- Kings of Infinite Space (St. Martin's Press, 2004)
- Next (Little, Brown and Company, 2010)
External links
- James Hynes's website
- Profile from Contemporary Authors Online, Thomson Gale, 2004
- Review of Publish and Perish, New York Times Book Review, August 3, 1997
- Review of The Lecturer's Tale, by Elaine Showalter, Chronicle of Higher Education, February 2, 2001.
- "Genre Trouble," by James Hynes, Boston Review, December 2000/January 2001.
- "Adam Thorpe's One-Man Show," by James Hynes, Boston Review, Summer, 2003.
- "The Secret Lives of Men," by James Hynes, Boston Review, Summer, 2004.
- "Cubicle Gothic," by James Hynes, Boston Review, April/May, 2004.
- Michael Schaub interviews James Hynes, Bookslut, 2004
- James Hynes discovers Ana Karenina through bifocals, Salon, July 2005
- "The Dreamlife of Rupert Thomson," by James Hynes, Boston Review, January/February, 2006.
- "Destination: Whitechapel and Spitalfields," by James Hynes, Salon, June 15, 2006.
- James Hynes’ top ten Halloween recommendations
- "The Big Shill," by James Hynes, In These Times, September 21, 1988. Hynes writes about Harvey PekarHarvey PekarHarvey Lawrence Pekar was an American underground comic book writer, music critic and media personality, best known for his autobiographical American Splendor comic series. In 2003, the series inspired a critically acclaimed film adaptation of the same name.Pekar described American Splendor as "an...
's final appearance on Late Night with David Letterman.