American · 1922–1994
John Edward Williams was an American author and professor. He taught at the University of Denver from 1954 until his retirement in 1985. Williams published four novels during his lifetime, but remained relatively obscure until the 2006 reissue of Stoner by New York Review Books sparked a major critical reassessment. His other notable works include Butcher Crossing (1960) and Augustus (1972), which won the National Book Award. Williams wrote with spare, precise prose and had a particular gift for portraying quiet lives of dignity and disappointment.