David Sedaris

"Like all of my friends, she's a lousy judge of character."

Sedaris came to prominence in 1992 when National Public Radio broadcast his essay SantaLand Diaries. He published his first collection of essays and short stories, Barrel Fever, in 1994.

Each of his four subsequent essay collections, Naked (1997), Holidays on Ice (1997), Me Talk Pretty One Day (2000), Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim (2004), and When You Are Engulfed in Flames (2008) have become New York Times Best Sellers.

As of 2008, his books have collectively sold seven million copies. Much of Sedaris' humor is autobiographical and self-deprecating, and it often concerns his family life, his middle class upbringing in the suburbs of Raleigh, North Carolina, Greek heritage, various jobs, education, drug use, homosexuality, and his life in France with his partner, Hugh Hamrick.

What genres and formats does David Sedaris write in?

Sedaris is best known for comic essays and memoir-style pieces, plus short stories and diary collections. Much of his work is humorous non-fiction with occasional fictional pieces.

What themes does he commonly explore?

His writing is largely autobiographical and self-deprecating, focusing on family life, his Raleigh upbringing, Greek heritage, various jobs and education, drug use, sexuality, and episodes from his life in France.

Which book is a good place to start?

Good entry points are Me Talk Pretty One Day, Naked, or Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim. The essay SantaLand Diaries is also a famous early piece that introduced his work to many readers.

Are his books meant to be read in order or are they standalone?

Most of Sedaris's collections are standalone and can be read in any order. His diary volumes are chronological collections, so readers who want a day-by-day sense of his life may prefer to follow those in sequence.

What are some highlights of his publishing history and recognition?

He came to prominence after the 1992 radio broadcast of SantaLand Diaries. His first collection was Barrel Fever (1994), and several subsequent essay collections became New York Times bestsellers. By 2008 his books had sold millions of copies.