Oates, Joyce Carol (Vol. 19) - Introduction

Oates, Joyce Carol 1938–

Oates is an American novelist, short story writer, poet, playwright, critic, and editor. She is an extremely prolific writer whose fiction and nonfiction has been published in books as well as popular and scholarly journals. Her short stories reveal the full range of her artistry, for in that genre Oates seems to be in the greatest control of her material. Her fictional world is violent and tragic; her characters, disturbed and unhappy, are often victims of their social milieu and emotional weaknesses. Oates was the recipient of the National Book Award in 1970 for Them and has twice received the O. Henry Award. (See also CLC, Vols. 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, 15, and Contemporary Authors, Vols. 5-8, rev. ed.)