Paul Auster, a celebrated American author and filmmaker known for his inventive storytelling and thought-provoking narratives, passed away at the age of 77. His literary representatives confirmed his death on Wednesday, following his cancer diagnosis in 2022.
Auster’s literary career spanned over five decades, during which he wrote more than 30 books that were translated into numerous languages. Although he never achieved major commercial success in the United States, he was widely admired internationally for his intellectual and introspective writing style. The French government even named him a chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters in 1991.
Auster’s works often blended various elements, such as history, politics, and genre experiments, while exploring existential themes and self-referential narratives. His most famous work, “The New York Trilogy,” was a postmodern detective series that played with the concepts of identity and reality. His longest novel, “4 3 2 1,” was an ambitious exploration of four parallel lives in post-World War II America.
In addition to his writing, Auster had a notable film career. He collaborated with director Wayne Wang on the acclaimed film “Smoke” and its improvisational sequel “Blue in the Face.” Auster also directed his own films, including “Lulu on the Bridge” and “The Inner Life of Martin Frost.”
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Auster grew up in a middle-class, Jewish family. Despite struggling financially for many years after college, Auster remained committed to his craft, viewing writing as a calling rather than a career choice.
Auster is survived by his wife, author Siri Hustvedt, and their daughter, Sophie. His son, Daniel, from a previous marriage, passed away in 2022.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.