Ken Kalfus
Encyclopedia
Ken Kalfus is an American
author
and journalist
. Three of his books have been named New York Times Notable Books of the Year.
Kalfus started college at Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY, but dropped out after the first year. He attended various other universities including the New School for Social Research in Manhattan and Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Kalfus started writing at an early age.
, Dublin, Belgrade
, and Moscow
. He believes his time in other countries keeps his observations fresh and provides him with valuable insights.
He is the author of several books, after beginning with publishing short stories. His most recent novel was A Disorder Peculiar to the Country (2006), a National Book Award
nominee. His first novel was The Commissariat of Enlightenment (2003), preceded by short story collections PU-239 and Other Russian Fantasies (1999) and Thirst (1998). The latter three works were each chosen among the New York Times Notable Books of the Year. He published his first book at the age of 44, and achieved favorable critical response.
The 2007 HBO movie Pu-239
was based on his short story of the same name.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. Three of his books have been named New York Times Notable Books of the Year.
Early life and education
He was born in the Bronx, NY and grew up in Plainview, Long Island.Kalfus started college at Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville, NY, but dropped out after the first year. He attended various other universities including the New School for Social Research in Manhattan and Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Kalfus started writing at an early age.
Career
Kalfus and his family have lived in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Dublin, Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, and Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. He believes his time in other countries keeps his observations fresh and provides him with valuable insights.
He is the author of several books, after beginning with publishing short stories. His most recent novel was A Disorder Peculiar to the Country (2006), a National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
nominee. His first novel was The Commissariat of Enlightenment (2003), preceded by short story collections PU-239 and Other Russian Fantasies (1999) and Thirst (1998). The latter three works were each chosen among the New York Times Notable Books of the Year. He published his first book at the age of 44, and achieved favorable critical response.
The 2007 HBO movie Pu-239
Pu-239 (film)
PU-239 is a 2007 film directed by Hollywood producer Scott Z. Burns based on the book PU-239 and Other Russian Fantasies written by Ken Kalfus....
was based on his short story of the same name.
Honors
- Finalist for PEN/Faulkner Award
- Salon Book Award
- Pushcart Prize
- 2009 Guggenheim FellowshipGuggenheim FellowshipGuggenheim Fellowships are American grants that have been awarded annually since 1925 by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation to those "who have demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or exceptional creative ability in the arts." Each year, the foundation makes...
- 2009 Pew Fellowships in the ArtsPew Fellowships in the ArtsThe Pew Fellowships in the Arts is an organization established by the Pew Charitable Trusts in 1991 which awards grants to Philadelphia-area artists. The grants provide artists with an economic freedom that presents the opportunity to focus on their individual practices over a considerable period...
External links
- Three Stories, Madras Press, 2010
- Excerpt, Ken Kalfus, "Thirst", Milkweed Editions, 1998
- "Meet the Writers: Ken Kalfus", Barnes and Noble