Sunday, August 28, 2011

Tobias Wolff


Tobias Wolff was born in Birmingham, Alabama, was expelled from college, and served in the Army during the Vietnam War. While all these things are interesting, it is his writing that has gotten him the majority of recognition. He has written short stories and memoirs. His writing was spread across many genres including fiction and nonfiction. Wolff used his experiences in the Army and a troubled childhood as motivators for stories. Tobias Wolff wrote very deep stories that upon examination leave many readers not knowing whether to believe in what they know as of then or what Wolff has brought about through his writing. A specific example of this is in Bullet in the Brain, which was about an unhappy book critic being killed and seeing his happier years flash before his eyes. Another piece of writing by Tobias Wolff is This Boy's Life, which is a memoir about his childhood which was full of abuse after his mother divorced his father. Wolff was the victim of his Stepfather's abuse while also enduring an uncertain life with his mother which includes moving around and uncertainty. This piece was later made into a short film which starred Robert De Niro and also Leonardo Dicaprio. On top of this Bullet in the Brain was also made into a short film which starred Tom Noonan. Now in his later years, Tobias Wolff serves as a English Professor at the University of Stanford and also served as the Director of Creative Writing for a few years. Tobias Wolff has lead a very accomplished life in which he forced people to ask themselves deeper questions and really focus on their life and the choices they make. His influence on literature will never be forgotten in years to come.





A video of Tobias Wolff reading Bullet in the Brain



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