Information about the Author

John Williams (1922-1994) was born and raised in Northeast Texas. Despite his talent for writing and acting, Williams failed after his first year at a local junior college. Reluctantly, he enlisted in the war and joined the Army Air Corps, where he managed to draft his first novel. After returning, Williams found a small publisher for the novel and enrolled at the University of Denver, where he eventually earned both his B.A. and M.A. and returned as a lecturer in 1954. Williams remained part of the faculty of the creative writing program at the University of Denver until his retirement in 1985. During these years, he was an active guest lecturer and writer, publishing two collections of poetry and three novels: "Butcher's Crossing," "Stoner," and the National Book Award-winning "Augustus.".