Jonathan Franzen

"But the first lesson reading teaches is how to be alone."

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Jonathan Franzen is the author of six novels, most recently Crossroads and Purity, and five works of nonfiction, including The Discomfort Zone, Farther Away, and The End of the End of the Earth.

Among his honors are the National Book Award, the James Tait Black Memorial Award, the Heartland Prize, Die Welt Literature Prize, the Budapest Grand Prize, and the first Carlos Fuentes Medal awarded at the Guadalajara International Book Fair. Franzen is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the German Akademie der Künste, and the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.

What genres does Jonathan Franzen write in?

Franzen writes primarily literary fiction (novels) and nonfiction, including essay collections and memoir-style works.

How many novels and nonfiction books has he published?

He is the author of six novels and five works of nonfiction.

Which books are good places to start with his work?

Popular entry points include The Corrections and Freedom for novels, Purity and Crossroads for later fiction, and essay collections such as How to Be Alone or The Discomfort Zone for nonfiction.

Has he received major literary awards?

Yes. His honors include the National Book Award, the James Tait Black Memorial Award, the Heartland Prize, the Die Welt Literature Prize, the Budapest Grand Prize, and the Carlos Fuentes Medal. He is also a member of several arts and letters academies.

Is there a required reading order or series to follow?

There is no required series order. Most of his novels can be read independently; reading them in publication order is an option if you want to follow his development as a writer.