Andre Dubus
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Andre Jules Dubus II (August 11, 1936 – February 24, 1999) was an American writer of
short stories A short story is a piece of prose fiction. It can typically be read in a single sitting and focuses on a self-contained incident or series of linked incidents, with the intent of evoking a single effect or mood. The short story is one of the old ...
, novels, and
essays An essay ( ) is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a Letter (message), letter, a term paper, paper, an article (publishing), article, a pamphlet, and a s ...
.


Biography


Early life and education

Andre Jules Dubus II was born in
Lake Charles, Louisiana Lake Charles is the List of municipalities in Louisiana, fifth-most populous city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, and the county seat, parish seat of Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, Calcasieu Parish, located on Lake Charles (Louisiana), Lake Char ...
, the youngest child of Katherine (Burke) and André Jules Dubus, a Cajun-Irish Catholic family. His two elder siblings are Kathryn and Beth. James Lee Burke is his first cousin. His surname is pronounced "Duh-BYOOSE", with the accent falling on the second syllable, as in "profuse". Dubus grew up in the Bayou country in
Lafayette, Louisiana Lafayette ( , ) is the most populous city in and parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, Lafayette Parish in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located along the Vermilion River (Louisiana), Vermilion River. It is Louisiana's List of municipaliti ...
, and was educated by the Christian Brothers, a
Catholic The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...
religious order that emphasized
literature Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, Play (theatre), plays, and poetry, poems. It includes both print and Electroni ...
and writing. Dubus graduated from nearby McNeese State College in 1958 as a
journalism Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the "news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree of accuracy. The word, a noun, applies to the journ ...
and English major. Dubus then spent six years in the
Marine Corps Marines (or naval infantry) are military personnel generally trained to operate on both land and sea, with a particular focus on amphibious warfare. Historically, the main tasks undertaken by marines have included raiding ashore (often in supp ...
, eventually rising to the rank of
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
. At this time he married his first wife and started a family. After leaving the Marine Corps, Dubus moved with his wife and four children to
Iowa City Iowa City is the largest city in Johnson County, Iowa, United States, and its county seat. At the time of the 2020 census the population was 74,828, making it the state's fifth-most populous city. The Iowa City metropolitan area, which enc ...
, where he later graduated from the
University of Iowa The University of Iowa (U of I, UIowa, or Iowa) is a public university, public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized int ...
's
Iowa Writers' Workshop The Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa, is a graduate-level creative writing program. At 89 years, it is the oldest writing program offering a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in the United States. Its acceptance rate is between 2 ...
with an MFA in
creative writing Creative writing is any writing that goes beyond the boundaries of normal professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature, typically identified by an emphasis on craft and technique, such as narrative structure, character ...
, studying under Richard Yates. The family then moved to
Haverhill, Massachusetts Haverhill ( ) is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Haverhill is located north of Boston on the New Hampshire border and about from the Atlantic Ocean. The population was 67,787 at the 2020 United States census. Located o ...
, where Dubus would spend the bulk of his academic career teaching literature and creative writing at Bradford College. He admired
Ernest Hemingway Ernest Miller Hemingway ( ; July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short-story writer and journalist. Known for an economical, understated style that influenced later 20th-century writers, he has been romanticized fo ...
,
Anton Chekhov Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (; ; 29 January 1860 – 15 July 1904) was a Russian playwright and short-story writer, widely considered to be one of the greatest writers of all time. His career as a playwright produced four classics, and his b ...
, and
John Cheever John William Cheever (May 27, 1912 – June 18, 1982) was an American short story writer and novelist. He is sometimes called "the Chekhov of the suburbs". His fiction is mostly set on the Upper East Side of Manhattan; the Westchester suburbs ...
.


Personal difficulties

Dubus's life was marked by several tragedies. His daughter was raped as a young woman, causing Dubus many years of paranoia over his loved ones' safety. Dubus carried personal firearms to protect himself and those around him, until the night in the late 1980s, when he almost shot a man who was in a drunken argument with his son, Andre, outside a bar in Haverhill, Massachusetts. Dubus was seriously injured in a car accident on the night of July 23, 1986. He was driving from
Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
to his home in
Haverhill, Massachusetts Haverhill ( ) is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. Haverhill is located north of Boston on the New Hampshire border and about from the Atlantic Ocean. The population was 67,787 at the 2020 United States census. Located o ...
, and he stopped to assist two disabled motorists—brother and sister Luis and Luz Santiago. As Dubus assisted the injured Luz to the side of the highway, an oncoming car swerved and hit them. Luis was killed instantly; Luz survived because Dubus had pushed her out of the way. Dubus was critically injured and both his legs were crushed. After a series of unsuccessful operations, his right leg was amputated above the knee, and he eventually lost the use of his left leg. Dubus spent three years undergoing a series of painful operations and extensive
physical therapy Physical therapy (PT), also known as physiotherapy, is a healthcare profession, as well as the care provided by physical therapists who promote, maintain, or restore health through patient education, physical intervention, disease preventio ...
. To help Dubus with mounting medical bills, his friends and fellow writers
Ann Beattie Ann Beattie (born September 8, 1947) is an American novelist and short story writer. She has received an award for excellence from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters and the PEN/Malamud Award for excellence in the short story ...
, E.L. Doctorow,
John Irving John Winslow Irving (born John Wallace Blunt Jr.; March 2, 1942) is an American and Canadian novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. Irving achieved critical and popular acclaim after the international success of his fourth novel '' Th ...
, Gail Godwin,
Stephen King Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American author. Dubbed the "King of Horror", he is widely known for his horror novels and has also explored other genres, among them Thriller (genre), suspense, crime fiction, crime, scienc ...
,
John Updike John Hoyer Updike (March 18, 1932 – January 27, 2009) was an American novelist, poet, short-story writer, art critic, and literary critic. One of only four writers to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction more than once (the others being Booth Tar ...
,
Kurt Vonnegut Kurt Vonnegut ( ; November 11, 1922 – April 11, 2007) was an American author known for his Satire, satirical and darkly humorous novels. His published work includes fourteen novels, three short-story collections, five plays, and five nonfict ...
, and Richard Yates held a special literary benefit in Boston and raised $86,000. Despite his efforts to walk with a
prosthesis In medicine, a prosthesis (: prostheses; from ), or a prosthetic implant, is an artificial device that replaces a missing body part, which may be lost through physical trauma, disease, or a condition present at birth (Congenital, congenital disord ...
, chronic infections led to him using a
wheelchair A wheelchair is a mobilized form of chair using two or more wheels, a footrest, and an armrest usually cushioned. It is used when walking is difficult or impossible to do due to illnesses, injury, disabilities, or age-related health conditio ...
for the remainder of his life, and he battled
clinical depression Major depressive disorder (MDD), also known as clinical depression, is a mental disorder characterized by at least two weeks of pervasive low mood, low self-esteem, and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Intro ...
as a result of his condition. Over the course of these struggles Dubus's third wife left him, taking with her their two young daughters.


Final years

Dubus eventually continued to write after his accident and produced two books of essays—including ''Broken Vessels'', which became a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize—and a collection of short stories. Dubus also conducted a weekly writers' workshop in his home. Dubus spent his later years in Haverhill, until his death from a heart attack in 1999, age 62. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, near his home in Haverhill, Massachusetts.


Legacy

Andre Dubus was married three times and fathered six children. His son
Andre Dubus III Andre Dubus III (born September 11, 1959) is an American novelist and short story writer. He is a member of the faculty at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. Early life and education Born in Oceanside, California, to Patricia (née Lowe) an ...
is also an author; his most noted book is the novel '' House of Sand and Fog'' (1999), which was both a finalist for the
National Book Award The National Book Awards (NBA) are a set of annual U.S. literary awards. At the final National Book Awards Ceremony every November, the National Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards and two lifetime achievement awards to authors. ...
and the basis for an
Academy Award The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence ...
-nominated film of the same title. In 2011, Andre Dubus III published a memoir of his life, ''Townie'', which tells of growing up in Haverhill and deals extensively with his relationship with his father and the impoverished conditions faced by his mother and siblings after Dubus left the family for a student. Dubus was the subject of an essay by Kacey Kowars entitled "A Celebration of Words," and was also paid tribute to in ''Andre Dubus: Memoirs'', a book edited by Kowars and featuring authors such as James Lee Burke, Andre Dubus II, and Andre Dubus III. Xavier Review Press has published several scholarly titles on Dubus, including a special issue of
Xavier Review
' on both Dubus and his son. In 2001, the press released ''Andre Dubus: Tributes'' edited by Donald Anderson, and in 2003
Leap of the Heart: Andre Dubus Talking
' edited by Ross Gresham. Professor Olivia Carr Edenfield edited ''Conversations with Andre Dubus'' (University Press of Mississippi, 2013) and is the author of the critical monograph ''Understanding Andre Dubus'' (University of South Carolina Press, 2017).


Writing career

Although he did write one novel, ''The Lieutenant'' (1967), Dubus considered himself primarily a writer of short stories and novellas. Throughout his career, he published most of his work in small, distinguished literary journals such as ''
Ploughshares ''Ploughshares'' is an American literary journal established in 1971 by DeWitt Henry and Peter O'Malley in The Plough and Stars, an Irish pub in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since 1989, ''Ploughshares'' has been based at Emerson College in Bost ...
'' and '' Sewanee Review,'' though he also placed stories in magazines such as ''The New Yorker'' and ''Playboy''. Dubus remained loyal to a small publishing firm run by David R. Godine that published his first works. When larger book publishers approached him with more lucrative deals, Dubus stayed with Godine, switching only to
Alfred A. Knopf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. () is an American publishing house that was founded by Blanche Knopf and Alfred A. Knopf Sr. in 1915. Blanche and Alfred traveled abroad regularly and were known for publishing European, Asian, and Latin American writers ...
towards the end of his career to assist with medical bills. Dubus's collections and novellas include: ''Separate Flights'' (1975), ''Adultery and Other Choices'' (1977), ''Finding a Girl in America'' (1980), ''The Times Are Never So Bad'' (1983), ''Voices from the Moon'' (1984), ''The Last Worthless Evening'' (1986), ''Selected Stories'' (1988), ''Broken Vessels'' (1991), '' Dancing After Hours'' (1996), and ''Meditations from a Movable Chair'' (1998). Several writing awards are named after Dubus. His papers are archived at
McNeese State University McNeese State University is a public university in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Founded in 1939 as Lake Charles Junior College, it was renamed McNeese Junior College after John McNeese, an early local educator. The present name was adopted in 1970. M ...
and
Xavier University Xavier University ( ) is a private Jesuit university in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. It is the sixth-oldest Catholic and fourth-oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Xavier had an enrollment of approximately 5,600 undergraduate an ...
in
Louisiana Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...
and at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center at the University of Texas in Austin. Italian writer and editor Nicola Manuppelli has translated six collections of short stories and novellas by Dubus for Italian publishe
Mattioli 1885
"Separate Flights" ("Voli separati"), "The Times Are Never So Bad" ("I tempi non sono mai così cattivi"), "Voices From The Moon" ("Voci dalla luna"), "We Don't Live Here Anymore" ("Non abitiamo più qui"), "Finding a girl in America" ("Il padre d'inverno") "Dancing After Hours" ("Ballando a notte fonda"). For the publication of these works, Manuppelli has included introductions or afterwords by several American authors, including Dennis Lehane, Peter Orner, and Tobias Wolff, among others. In 2017, work began a
David R. Godine, Publishers
to gather together all of the fiction Dubus released with his longtime and loyal publisher between the mid-1970s and late 1980s. The three-volume collected short stories and novellas was conceived of by series editor Joshua Bodwell and is made up of six of Dubus's previous books, two books per volume, plus previously uncollected stories in volume three. The project was a thorough re-launch of the master's work: for the first time since Dubus's stories were originally published by Godine, all of the interior pages were re-set and re-designed; all new cover photographs were commissioned fro
Greta Rybus
the paperback originals were given handsome French flaps; and new, original introductions by Ann Beattie, Richard Russo, and Tobias Wolff were commissioned. All three volumes were published in 2018.


Cinematic adaptations

After Dubus's death, his story " Killings" was adapted into
Todd Field William Todd Field (born February 24, 1964) is an American filmmaker and actor. He is known for directing '' In the Bedroom'' (2001), '' Little Children'' (2006), and '' Tár'' (2022), which were nominated for a combined fourteen Academy Award ...
's '' In the Bedroom'' (2001) starring
Sissy Spacek Mary Elizabeth "Sissy" Spacek (; born December 25, 1949) is an American actress and singer. She has received List of awards and nominations received by Sissy Spacek, numerous accolades throughout her career spanning over five decades, including ...
,
Tom Wilkinson Thomas Geoffrey Wilkinson (5 February 1948 – 30 December 2023) was an English actor. Known for his roles on stage and screen, he received numerous accolades including a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award as well ...
, and
Marisa Tomei Marisa Tomei ( , ; born December 4, 1964) is an American actress. She gained prominence for her comedic performance in '' My Cousin Vinny'' (1992), which earned her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She received further nominations ...
. The film was nominated for five
Academy Awards The Academy Awards, commonly known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit in film. They are presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in the United States in recognition of excellence in ...
Best Picture The following is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various films, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Bes ...
, Actor in a Leading Role (Wilkinson), Actress in a Leading Role (Spacek), Actress in a Supporting Role (Tomei), and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Published (Robert Festinger & Field). The 2004 movie '' We Don't Live Here Anymore'' is based upon two of Dubus's novellas, "We Don't Live Here Anymore" and "Adultery".


Awards and honors

* Fellowships from the Guggenheim and MacArthur Foundations * L.L. Winship/PEN New England Award (for debut collection ''Separate Flights)'' (1975) * Jean Stein Award from the
American Academy of Arts and Letters The American Academy of Arts and Letters is a 300-member honor society whose goal is to "foster, assist, and sustain excellence" in American literature, Music of the United States, music, and Visual art of the United States, art. Its fixed number ...
(1988) * PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in the Short Story (1991) * Pulitzer Prize, Finalist (for nonfiction, ''Broken Vessels'') (1992) *
Rea Award for the Short Story The Rea Award for the Short Story is an annual award given to a living United States, American or Canada, Canadian author chosen for unusually significant contributions to short story fiction. The Award The Rea Award is named after Michael M. Rea ...
(1996) * National Book Critics Circle Award, Finalist (for fiction, ''Dancing After Hours'') (1996)


Selected bibliography

* ''The Lieutenant'' (Novel, 1967,
Dial Press The Dial Press is a publishing house founded in 1923 by Lincoln MacVeagh. The Dial Press shared a building with ''The Dial'' and Scofield Thayer worked with both. The first imprint was issued in 1924. Authors included Elizabeth Bowen, W. R. Bur ...
) * ''Separate Flights'' (Stories, 1975, David R. Godine, Publisher) * ''Adultery & Other Choices'' (Stories, 1977, David R. Godine, Publisher) (Reprint, David R. Godine Publisher, 1999) * ''Finding a Girl in America'' (Stories, 1980, David R. Godine, Publisher) * ''The Times Are Never So Bad'' (Stories, 1983, David R. Godine, Publisher) * ''Voices from the Moon'' (Novella, 1984, David R. Godine, Publisher) * ''The Last Worthless Evening'' (Stories, 1986, David R. Godine, Publisher) * ''Selected Stories'' (Stories, 1988, David R. Godine, Publisher) (Reprint, Vintage, 1996) * ''Broken Vessels'' (Essays, 1991, David R. Godine, Publisher) (Reprint, Vintage, 1992) * '' Dancing After Hours'' (Stories, 1996, Knopf, ) * ''Meditations from a Movable Chair'' (Essays, 1998, Knopf) * ''In the Bedroom'' (Stories, 2001, Vintage) (Selected and with a foreword by
Todd Field William Todd Field (born February 24, 1964) is an American filmmaker and actor. He is known for directing '' In the Bedroom'' (2001), '' Little Children'' (2006), and '' Tár'' (2022), which were nominated for a combined fourteen Academy Award ...
) *
We Don't Live Here Anymore: Collected Short Stories & Novellas, Volume 1
' (Stories, 2018, David R. Godine, Publisher) (Introduction by
Ann Beattie Ann Beattie (born September 8, 1947) is an American novelist and short story writer. She has received an award for excellence from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters and the PEN/Malamud Award for excellence in the short story ...
) *
The Winter Father: Collected Short Stories & Novellas, Volume 2
' (Stories, 2018, David R. Godine, Publisher) (Introduction by
Richard Russo Richard Russo (born July 15, 1949) is an American novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, and teacher. In 2002, he was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for his novel '' Empire Falls''. Several of his works have been adapted into televisi ...
) *
The Cross Country Runner: Collected Short Stories & Novellas, Volume 3
' (Stories, 2018, David R. Godine, Publisher) (Introduction by Tobias Wolff)


Reviews

* Review of ''Voices from the Moon''. *


References


External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dubus, Andre 1936 births 1999 deaths MacArthur Fellows 20th-century American memoirists Iowa Writers' Workshop alumni Writers from Lake Charles, Louisiana American amputees United States Marine Corps officers McNeese State University alumni 20th-century American novelists PEN/Malamud Award winners American male novelists American male essayists American male short story writers 20th-century American short story writers 20th-century American essayists 20th-century American male writers Novelists from Louisiana