T. Coraghessan Boyle

T. Coraghessan Boyle (born Thomas John Boyle on December 2, 1948) is a U.S. novelist and short story writer. Born in Peekskill, New York, he later settled down near Santa Barbara, California. He is married with three children. Since 1986, Boyle has been Professor of English at the University of Southern California.

Short story collections:

• Descent of Man (1979)
• Greasy Lake (1985)
• If the River Was Whiskey (1989)
• Without A Hero (1994)
• T.C. Boyle Stories (1998)
• After the Plague (2001)

Novels:

• Water Music[?] (1982) (see also Mungo Park)
• Budding Prospects[?] (1984)
• World's End[?] (1987)
• East Is East[?] (1990)
• The Road to Wellville[?] (1993)
• The Tortilla Curtain (1995)
• Riven Rock[?] (1998)
• A Friend of the Earth (2000)
• Drop City[?] (2003)

Renowned for the thorough research he carries out before actually starting to write a new book, Boyle has given new impetus to the historical novel by spinning bizarre and funny yarns round historical events. For example, Riven Rock, set in 1920s America, is about contemporary treatment for insanity as well as the emerging feminist movement, whereas his latest novel, Drop City[?], is set in 1970 and deals with the hippie movement.

Each of the 15 books is introduced by the author himself at http://www.tcboyle.com/public_htm/books.

External link

• The T. Coraghessan Boyle Research Center (http://www.tcboyle.net/) (in English, French, German, and Dutch).