August 30, 1983(1983-08-30) (aged 68) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation
Novelist
short story writer
poet
playwright
editor
teacher
Nationality
American
Alma mater
Rice Institute University of Iowa (Ph.D.)
Period
Modernism
Notable works
The House of Breath, A Book of Jesus, Arcadio
Spouse
Doris Roberts
(m. 1963)
Charles William Goyen (April 24, 1915 – August 30, 1983) was an American novelist, short story writer, playwright, poet, editor, and teacher. Born in a small town in East Texas, these roots would influence his work for his entire life.
In World War II he served as an officer aboard an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific, where he began work on one of his most important and critically acclaimed books, The House of Breath. After the war and through the 1950s, he published short stories, collections of stories, other novels, and plays. He never achieved commercial success in America, but his translated work was highly regarded in Europe. During his life he could not completely support himself through his writing, so at various times he took work as an editor and teacher at several prominent universities. At one point he did not write fiction for several years, calling it a "relief" to not have to worry about his writing.
Major themes in his work include home and family, place, time, sexuality, isolation, and memory. His style of writing is not easily categorized, and he eschewed labels of genre placed on his works.
In 1963, he married Doris Roberts, the actress perhaps best known for her work in Everybody Loves Raymond; they remained together until his death in 1983.
Charles WilliamGoyen (April 24, 1915 – August 30, 1983) was an American novelist, short story writer, playwright, poet, editor, and teacher. Born in...
The House of Breath is a novel written by the American author WilliamGoyen. It was his first book, published in 1950. It is not a novel in the usual...
considerable time in Taos, New Mexico with his partner, the author WilliamGoyen. There, he became known as one of the Taos Moderns and made the acquaintance...
one son. She had three grandchildren. Her second husband was writer WilliamGoyen and they were married from 1963 until his death from leukemia in 1983...
Dickey (1923–1997) William Faulkner (1897–1962) Tom Franklin (b. 1962) William Gay (1941–2012) Jacqueline Goldfinger (b. 1978) WilliamGoyen (1915–1983) Davis...
about her." Joseph Glasco became close friends with Frieda when he and WilliamGoyen lived together in Taos in the 1950s. At one point, Frieda asked Glasco...
"In the Icebound Hothouse" is a short story by American writer WilliamGoyen, originally published in 1985. It is included in the anthology American Gothic...
been cited as an influence by writers as diverse as Truman Capote, WilliamGoyen, Karen Blixen, John Hawkes, Bertha Harris, Dylan Thomas, David Foster...
1949), Final Payments Ron Goulart (1933–2022), After Things Fell Apart WilliamGoyen (1915–1983), The Fair Sister Sue Grafton (1940–2017), "A" is for Alibi...
House" Paul Bowles: "Allal" Isaac Bashevis Singer: "The Reencounter" WilliamGoyen: "In the Icebound Hothouse" John Cheever: "The Enormous Radio" Ray Bradbury:...
intellectuals in attendance. American author WilliamGoyen was a frequent visitor to the house and later Goyen's lover, American artist Joseph Glasco became...
Plattner Award for Nonfiction for "Virtual Hillbilly" 2005 Doris Roberts/WilliamGoyen Fellowship in Fiction, the Christopher Isherwood Foundation 2005 Artist...
town. During her time in Taos, she became friends with American author WilliamGoyen and many in his circle including American artist Joseph Glasco. She...
Goerke, Barron Hilton, Eric Hilton, Gerald D. Hines, Oveta Culp Hobby, William P. Hobby Jr., Philip Guthrie Hoffman, Brien Holden, Philip Johnson, Edith...
and Distinguished Service Order, in Bletchingley, England (d. 2001); WilliamGoyen, American writer, author of The House of Breath, in Trinity, Texas (d...
vallée fertile (1948) Laziness in the Fertile Valley, translation by WilliamGoyen (New Directions Publishing, 1953) Mendiants et Orgueilleux (1955) Proud...
the early careers of a range of playwrights, such as Tennessee Williams, William Inge, Joseph Hayes, Jerome Lawrence, and Robert E. Lee. Born Margaret Virginia...
included Charles Harris (Brick) Garrigues, John and Martha Clayton, WilliamGoyen, Harry Mark Petrakis and Friderike Zweig, the first wife of Stefan Zweig...
as Vangowan aka Jan van Goyen), on the National Trust website Attribution Courtney, William Prideaux (1886). "Blathwayt, William" . In Stephen, Leslie (ed...
Diana Leonard, James Richardson, Robert Thompson, Joseph Tate, and WilliamGoyens (who all were free slaves, partly black, and/or were of color) were...
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