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John Williams was born on August 29, 1922 in Clarksville, Texas. He served in the United States Army Air Force from 1942 to 1945 in China, Burma and India. The Swallow Press published his first novel, Nothing But the Night, in 1948, as well as his first book of poems, The Broken Landscape, in 1949. Macmillan published Williams' second novel, Butcher's Crossing, in 1960. After recieving his B.A. and M.A. from the University of Denver, and his Ph.D from the University of Missouri, Williams returned in 1954 to the University of Denver where he taught literature and the craft of writing for thirty years. In 1963 Williams received a fellowship to study at Oxford University where where he received a Rockefeller grant enabling him to travel and research in Italy for his last novel, Augustus, published in 1972. John Williams died in Arkansas on March 4, 1994.
I was stunned by it... It's beautifully written in simple but brilliant prose, a novel of an ordinary life, an examination of a quiet tragedy, the work of a great but little-known writer -- Ruth Rendell Guardian A masterpiece of sad lucidity, as moving as it is psychologically compelling -- Peter Kemp Sunday Times It is a remarkably affecting story, told in quiet, unshowy prose -- Stefan Collini Times Literary Supplement In recent times I have owed more to word of mouth than to the statements of reviewers, when it comes to finding my way to rewarding work published or reissued. This is also true, or truer still, of Stoner -- Karl Miller Times Literary Supplement My favourite book of the year...a masterpiece-beautifully written with a rare tenderness and wisdom that will make you want to read it again -- Jonathan Pugh Daily Mail With prose of breathtaking clarity, and a narrative that flows along seamlessly, Williams subverts the American dream via an underachieving and rather unlucky university lecturer... Anyone who loves literature will surely love this -- Judy Moir Herald The other book that cheered me up this year was Stoner by John Williams.re-emerging this year - rather triumphantly (and permanently this time, I think) -- Robin Robertson Glasgow Sunday Herald A compassionate depiction of Everyman that celebrates the transformative power of literature -- Melonie Clarke The Lady The prose reads as though Williams is composing chamber music for one Daily Telegraph The brilliance of Stoner...is to remind us that even the most outwardly unremarkable life inwardly blazes with passion, pain - and courage -- Sandra Parsons Daily Mail Stoner is a wonderful novel, rich and sombre, a record of pain and less but also of moments of vision and tenderness... You'll just have to take my word that Stoner's narrative rhythm, its spacing of event, is flawless -- Adam Foulds Independent It's difficult to know how a novel could be any better -- Chris Patten Tablet Enthralling and the overall effect is both a surprise and a delight -- Kathy Watson Tablet Spare, wise, and utterly compelling -- Peter Brookes The Times Probably one of my favourite books I've ever read -- Tom Odell Observer Beautifully cadenced and understated in the most profound way -- Colum McCann The Gloss
