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Paul Harding (author)
Encyclopedia
Paul Harding is an American musician and author, best known for his debut novel
Tinkers
(2009) which won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
and the 2010 PEN
/Robert Bingham Fellowship for Writers. Harding was drummer for the band Cold Water Flat
from approximately the founding in 1990 to 1997. Harding has a B.A.
in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
and has taught writing at Harvard University
and the University of Iowa
.
Harding grew up on the north shore of Boston in the town of Wenham, Massachusetts
and is a first cousin of figure skater Tonya Harding. As a youth he spent a lot of time "knocking about in the woods" which he attributes to his love of nature. His grandfather fixed clocks and he apprenticed under him, an experience that found its way into his novel Tinkers. After graduating from UMass, he spent time touring with his band Cold Water Flat
in the US and Europe. He had always been a heavy reader and while in the middle of reading Carlos Fuentes
' Terra Nostra
he remembered putting it down and thinking "this is what I want to do". In that book Harding "saw the entire world, all of history". When he next had time off from touring with the band he signed up for a summer writing class at Skidmore College
in New York. His teacher was Marilynne Robinson
and through her he learned about the Iowa Writers' Workshop
writing program and applied and was accepted. There he studied with Barry Unsworth
, Elizabeth McCracken
and later Robinson. At some point he realized some of the people he admired most were "profoundly religious" and so he spent years reading theology
, and was "deeply" influenced by Karl Barth
and John Calvin
. He considers himself a "self-taught modern New England transcendentalist".
Musically, he admires jazz drummers and considers Coltrane
's drummer, Elvin Jones
, the greatest.
Harding lives near Boston with his wife and two sons.
Harding's second novel will concern characters from his first novel Tinkers, looking at the lives of George Crosby's daughter, Kate Crosby, and his grandson Charlie. It will be published by Random House.
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
Tinkers
Tinkers (novel)
Tinkers is the first novel by American author Paul Harding. The novel tells the tale of George Washington Crosby, a clock repairman, who, on his deathbed, recounts his life story and his father's struggles with epilepsy to his family...
(2009) which won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
2010 Pulitzer Prize
The 2010 Pulitzer Prizes were awarded on Monday, April 12, 2010. In journalism, The Washington Post won four awards while The New York Times won three. For the first time, an online source, ProPublica, won in what had previously been the sole province of print. A musical, Next to Normal, won the...
and the 2010 PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
/Robert Bingham Fellowship for Writers. Harding was drummer for the band Cold Water Flat
Cold Water Flat
Cold Water Flat was an American band formed in 1990 by Paul Janovitz , Ted Silva and Paul Harding when the trio studied at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Paul is the younger brother of Bill Janovitz, lead singer and songwriter of Buffalo Tom...
from approximately the founding in 1990 to 1997. Harding has a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in English from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
and has taught writing at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
.
Harding grew up on the north shore of Boston in the town of Wenham, Massachusetts
Wenham, Massachusetts
Wenham is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,875 at the 2010 census.The Town of Wenham was originally settled in 1635 and has retained much of its unique historic character and tranquil rural scenery...
and is a first cousin of figure skater Tonya Harding. As a youth he spent a lot of time "knocking about in the woods" which he attributes to his love of nature. His grandfather fixed clocks and he apprenticed under him, an experience that found its way into his novel Tinkers. After graduating from UMass, he spent time touring with his band Cold Water Flat
Cold Water Flat
Cold Water Flat was an American band formed in 1990 by Paul Janovitz , Ted Silva and Paul Harding when the trio studied at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Paul is the younger brother of Bill Janovitz, lead singer and songwriter of Buffalo Tom...
in the US and Europe. He had always been a heavy reader and while in the middle of reading Carlos Fuentes
Carlos Fuentes
Carlos Fuentes Macías is a Mexican writer and one of the best-known living novelists and essayists in the Spanish-speaking world. He has influenced contemporary Latin American literature, and his works have been widely translated into English and other languages.-Biography:Fuentes was born in...
' Terra Nostra
Terra Nostra (novel)
Terra Nostra is a 1975 novel by the Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes. The narrative covers 20 centuries of European and American culture, and prominently features the construction of El Escorial by Philip II. The title is Latin for "Our earth"...
he remembered putting it down and thinking "this is what I want to do". In that book Harding "saw the entire world, all of history". When he next had time off from touring with the band he signed up for a summer writing class at Skidmore College
Skidmore College
Skidmore College is a private, independent, liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,500 students. The college is located in the town of Saratoga Springs, New York State....
in New York. His teacher was Marilynne Robinson
Marilynne Robinson
-Biography:Robinson was born and grew up in Sandpoint, Idaho, and did her undergraduate work at Pembroke College, the former women's college at Brown University, receiving her B.A., magna cum laude in 1966, where she was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. She received her Ph.D...
and through her he learned about the Iowa Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
writing program and applied and was accepted. There he studied with Barry Unsworth
Barry Unsworth
Barry Unsworth is a British novelist who is known for novels with historical themes. He has published 15 novels, and has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize three times, winning once for the 1992 novel Sacred Hunger....
, Elizabeth McCracken
Elizabeth McCracken
Elizabeth McCracken is an American author.McCracken, a graduate of the Iowa Writers' Workshop, was born in Boston, Massachusetts, graduated from Newton North High School in Newton, Massachusetts, earned a B.A. and M.A. in English from Boston University, an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa, and...
and later Robinson. At some point he realized some of the people he admired most were "profoundly religious" and so he spent years reading theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, and was "deeply" influenced by Karl Barth
Karl Barth
Karl Barth was a Swiss Reformed theologian whom critics hold to be among the most important Christian thinkers of the 20th century; Pope Pius XII described him as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas...
and John Calvin
John Calvin
John Calvin was an influential French theologian and pastor during the Protestant Reformation. He was a principal figure in the development of the system of Christian theology later called Calvinism. Originally trained as a humanist lawyer, he broke from the Roman Catholic Church around 1530...
. He considers himself a "self-taught modern New England transcendentalist".
Musically, he admires jazz drummers and considers Coltrane
Coltrane
John Coltrane was a jazz saxophonist.Coltrane may also refer to:* Coltrane , an album by John Coltrane from Prestige* Coltrane , an album by John Coltrane from Impulse!...
's drummer, Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
, the greatest.
Harding lives near Boston with his wife and two sons.
Harding's second novel will concern characters from his first novel Tinkers, looking at the lives of George Crosby's daughter, Kate Crosby, and his grandson Charlie. It will be published by Random House.
Works
- TinkersTinkers (novel)Tinkers is the first novel by American author Paul Harding. The novel tells the tale of George Washington Crosby, a clock repairman, who, on his deathbed, recounts his life story and his father's struggles with epilepsy to his family...
(New York: Bellevue Literary Press, 2009. ISBN 9781934137123)