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Jonathan Earl Franzen (born August 17, 1959 in [[UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}} Western Springs]], UsefulNotes/{{Illinois}}) is a widely lauded author of American literary fiction who has written five novels. His third book, ''Literature/TheCorrections'', launched him into the stratosphere in terms of popularity, although more people [[OvershadowedByControversy may be familiar with Franzen's "feud" with Oprah]] than the actual novel. Regardless, ''The Corrections'' became a bestseller, won the 2001 National Book Award for Fiction, was a finalist for the 2002 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, and is considered to be the best book of the [[TurnOfTheMillennium 2000s]]. His fourth novel, ''Literature/{{Freedom}}'', was met with similar praise.

In addition to his novels, Franzen has published a collection of essays, ''Literature/HowToBeAlone'', a memoir, ''Literature/TheDiscomfortZone'', and, most recently, ''Literature/FartherAway'', another essay collection. He has also published various short pieces, fiction and non-fiction, throughout his career, along with a translation of the German play ''Frühlings Erwachen'', perhaps better known as ''Theatre/SpringAwakening''.

Franzen was a close friend of Creator/DavidFosterWallace, another writer of the same generation with roots in the Lower Midwest (Franzen being raised in suburban UsefulNotes/StLouis, Wallace in Urbana, IL). He sometimes [[WordOfSaintPaul interprets/fills in the blanks on Wallace's work]]. While controversial, this has been acknowledged as valuable (being a confidant of Wallace, he is well-positioned to talk about Wallace's quasi-autobiographical short fiction).

His books include:
[[index]]
* ''Literature/TheTwentySeventhCity'' (1988, novel)
* ''Literature/StrongMotion'' (1992, novel)
* ''Literature/TheCorrections'' (2001, novel)
* ''Literature/{{Freedom}}'' (2010, novel)
* ''Literature/HowToBeAlone'' (2002, essay collection)
* ''Literature/TheDiscomfortZone'' (2006, memoir)
* ''Literature/{{Purity}}'' (2015, novel)
* ''Crossroads'' (2021, novel)
[[/index]]
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