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Who was Paul La Farge?
Paul La Farge was an American novelist, essayist, and academic, who passed away on January 18, 2023, at the age of 52, due to cancer. He was known for his novels such as The Artist of the Missing, The Facts of Winter, The Night Ocean, Haussmann or the Distinction, and Luminous Airplanes, all of which, particularly Haussmann, earned positive critical attention. His essays, fiction and reviews have appeared in publications such as The Believer, The Village Voice, Harper’s, and The New Yorker.
What made Paul La Farge’s novels unique?
La Farge’s novels were characterized by their inventive use of genre, form, and style, blending elements of fantasy, history, mystery, and metafiction. He often explored themes of memory, identity, art, and the secret and the strange. He was influenced by writers such as Jorge Luis Borges, Gabriel García Márquez, Marcel Proust, and Vladimir Nabokov.
Some of his notable works include:
- The Artist of the Missing (1999), a surrealistic tale of a painter who creates portraits of missing people in an anonymous city.
- Haussmann, or the Distinction (2001), a fictional biography of Baron Haussmann, the city planner who transformed Paris in the 19th century.
- The Facts of Winter (2005), a collection of imaginary dreams attributed to various people living in Paris in 1881, translated from a fictional author named Paul Poissel.
- Luminous Airplanes (2011), a novel about a young man who returns to his childhood home in the Catskills and discovers a secret history of his family and the town, accompanied by a hypertext website that expands the story in multiple directions.
- The Night Ocean (2017), a novel that delves into the life and death of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft and his relationship with a young fan named Robert Barlow, as well as the mysteries and controversies surrounding their legacy.
How did Paul La Farge impact the literary world?
La Farge was widely admired and respected by his peers and readers, who praised his originality, creativity, and intelligence. He won several awards and honors, such as two California Book Awards, the Bard Fiction Prize, the Guggenheim Fellowship, the National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship, and the residency at the American Academy in Berlin. He also taught creative writing at various institutions, such as Bard College, Wesleyan University, Columbia University, and Bennington College, where he was on the faculty when he died. He mentored and inspired many aspiring writers, and contributed to the development and diversity of American literature.
How did Paul La Farge’s fans and friends react to his death?
La Farge’s death was met with shock and sadness by his fans and friends, who expressed their condolences and tributes on social media and other platforms. Many of them shared their favorite memories and works of La Farge, and celebrated his life and achievements. Some of his close friends, such as novelist Genevieve Guenther, wrote heartfelt eulogies and obituaries, describing him as “the charismatic and loving center of a vibrant group of writers and creatives for almost 30 years, and a great writer himself, especially about the secret and the strange.” His wife, Sarah Stern, confirmed his death and thanked everyone for their support and love.
Conclusion
Paul La Farge cause of death was cancer, but his legacy lives on in his novels and essays, which continue to enchant and challenge readers with their literary magic. He was a remarkable writer and a wonderful person, who will be dearly missed by his family, friends, and fans. He left behind a rich and diverse body of work, that will inspire and influence generations of writers and readers to come.
