Читать книгу The Bandini Quartet - John Fante - Страница 2

Born in Denver on 8 April 1909, John Fante migrated to Los Angeles in his early twenties. He began writing in 1930 and had numerous short stories published in American magazines, the likes of American Mercury, Harper’s Bazaar, Esquire, Saturday Evening Post and the Atlantic Monthly. Fante also wrote several collections of short stories and numerous screenplays, including Full of Life and Walk on the Wild Side.

His first published novel, Wait Until Spring, Bandini, appeared in 1938 and was followed in 1939 by Ask the Dust. Though he made his living as a screenwriter, Fante was often out of place in a town built on celluloid dreams, and was not truly discovered as a great fiction writer until many years later.

Stricken with diabetes in the ’50s, Fante lost his sight in 1978, but continued to write by dictation to his wife, Joyce. Dreams From Bunker Hill, his final book, was published in 1982. He died the following year at the age of 74.

Discovered posthumously among his papers was The Road to Los Angeles. Written in 1933, it was the first book he produced as part of the Arturo Bandini cycle of novels. Wait Until Spring, Bandini, though written later, was in effect a prequel that introduced us to a brash young Bandini, whom many believed to be Fante’s alter ego.

John Fante was recognised in 1987 with a Lifetime Achievement Award by PEN, Los Angeles. He is now regarded as one of the finest writers of his generation.