Kevin Baker
Encyclopedia
Kevin Baker is an American
novelist and journalist
. He was born in Englewood, New Jersey
and grew up in New Jersey and Rockport, Massachusetts
.
As a youth he worked on the Gloucester Daily Times
, covering school-boy sports, as well as local town meetings and other civic affairs. He graduated from Columbia University
, where he majored in political science, in 1980.
Baker is the author of the City of Fire trilogy, published by HarperCollins
, which consists of the following historical novels: Dreamland
; the bestselling Paradise Alley; and Strivers Row. The middle volume of the trilogy was the winner of the 2003 James Fenimore Cooper Prize for Best Historical Fiction
and the American Book Award. He has also written a contemporary baseball novel called Sometimes You See it Coming
, and a graphic novel called Luna Park. Baker was chief historical researcher on Harold Evans
’s illustrated history of the United States, The American Century. . He is also the author of "The Story of Us," the companion book to the History Channel series, and wrote the new final chapter for the reissue of "Baseball," the companion book to Ken Burns' 10-part film, "Baseball," which has aired on public television.
Baker resides in New York
, where he is a contributing editor to Harper's Magazine
. He was formerly a columnist for "In the News" in American Heritage magazine, and is a regular contributor to The New York Times
and The New York Times Book Review
. Baker appeared on CSPAN "Washington Journal
" and "The Colbert Report" in the summer of 2009, to discuss the Barack Obama
Presidency.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He was born in Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
and grew up in New Jersey and Rockport, Massachusetts
Rockport, Massachusetts
Rockport is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,952 at the 2010 census. Rockport is located approximately 25 miles northeast of Boston at the tip of the Cape Ann peninsula...
.
As a youth he worked on the Gloucester Daily Times
Gloucester Daily Times
The Gloucester Daily Times is a six-day evening daily newspaper published in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA. The newspaper is published by Eagle-Tribune Publishing Company, a subsidiary of Community Newspaper Holdings Inc....
, covering school-boy sports, as well as local town meetings and other civic affairs. He graduated from Columbia University
Columbia College of Columbia University
Columbia College is the oldest undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the university's main campus in Morningside Heights in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded in 1754 by the Church of England as King's College, receiving a Royal Charter from King George II...
, where he majored in political science, in 1980.
Baker is the author of the City of Fire trilogy, published by HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
, which consists of the following historical novels: Dreamland
Dreamland (Kevin Baker)
Dreamland is a 1999 novel by American author Kevin Baker, published by HarperCollins Publishers. It centers on the colorful underworld of turn-of-the-century New York City, with much of the action taking place in the Coney Island amusement park of Dreamland.It is written about the adventure park...
; the bestselling Paradise Alley; and Strivers Row. The middle volume of the trilogy was the winner of the 2003 James Fenimore Cooper Prize for Best Historical Fiction
James Fenimore Cooper Prize for Best Historical Fiction
The James Fenimore Cooper Prize for Best Historical Fiction is a biannual award given by The Society of American Historians. The prize is given "to honor works of literary fiction that significantly advance the historical imagination" . The prize is named for nineteenth century American...
and the American Book Award. He has also written a contemporary baseball novel called Sometimes You See it Coming
Sometimes You See it Coming
Sometimes You See It Coming is a novel by Kevin Baker. The novel follows several fictitious members of the modern-day New York Mets, particularly right fielder John Barr The book portrays the Mets as a perennial pennant contender, and follows the team through one particular season, with...
, and a graphic novel called Luna Park. Baker was chief historical researcher on Harold Evans
Harold Evans
Sir Harold Matthew Evans is a British-born journalist and writer who was editor of The Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981. He has written various books on history and journalism...
’s illustrated history of the United States, The American Century. . He is also the author of "The Story of Us," the companion book to the History Channel series, and wrote the new final chapter for the reissue of "Baseball," the companion book to Ken Burns' 10-part film, "Baseball," which has aired on public television.
Baker resides in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, where he is a contributing editor to Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
. He was formerly a columnist for "In the News" in American Heritage magazine, and is a regular contributor to The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
and The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review
The New York Times Book Review is a weekly paper-magazine supplement to The New York Times in which current non-fiction and fiction books are reviewed. It is one of the most influential and widely read book review publications in the industry. The offices are located near Times Square in New York...
. Baker appeared on CSPAN "Washington Journal
Washington Journal
Washington Journal is an American television series on the C-SPAN network in the format of a political call-in and interview program. The program features elected officials, government administrators and journalists as guests, answering questions from the hosts and from members of the general...
" and "The Colbert Report" in the summer of 2009, to discuss the Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
Presidency.