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Robert Coover

ロバート・クーヴァー

Robert Coover

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1932-02-04 （Charles City, Iowa, U.S.）
Died
2024-10-05 （Warwick, England） age 92
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Charles City, Iowa (birth) → Providence, Rhode Island (taught at Brown University) → Warwick, England (later life / death)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Novelist, Short story writer, Professor (Literary Arts)
Active Years
1966-2023
Affiliations
Brown University (Literary Arts)

Education

Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Country: United States
Attended; details of degree uncertain
Indiana University Bloomington
Slavic Studies
Degree: B.A.
Period: 1950s
Year of Graduation: 1953
Country: United States
B.A. in Slavic Studies
University of Chicago
General Studies in the Humanities
Degree: M.A.
Period: 1960s
Year of Graduation: 1965
Country: United States
M.A. in General Studies in the Humanities

Awards

William Faulkner Foundation Award
1967
Work: The Origin of the Brunists
Organization: William Faulkner Foundation
Result: won
Rea Award for the Short Story
1987
Organization: Rea Award Committee
Result: won

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

The Origin of the Brunists

1966 Novel

Tells of the sole survivor of a mine disaster around whom a religious cult forms; explores social and religious fervor and personal destiny.

religious fervorcommunitysalvation and fanaticism

The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, Prop.

1968 Novel (metafiction)

Follows shy accountant J. Henry Waugh who invents an elaborate dice-driven fantasy baseball league, exploring creator/creation relationships.

creativityplay vs. realityagency

The Public Burning

1977 Novel (magic realism / political satire)

Interweaves the Rosenberg case with American myth (Uncle Sam), using figures like Nixon to satirize Cold War America.

politicsAmerican mythCold War

Pricksongs and Descants

1969 Short story collection (metafiction)

Collection including the celebrated metafictional story "The Babysitter." Experimental approaches to language and narrative form.

metafictionnarrative instabilityviolence and desire
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Babysitter / Guy Ferland (1995)

Bibliography

  • The Origin of the Brunists (1966)
  • The Universal Baseball Association, Inc., J. Henry Waugh, Prop. (1968)
  • Pricksongs & Descants (1969)
  • The Public Burning (1977)
  • Spanking the Maid (1982)
  • Gerald's Party (1986)
  • Whatever Happened to Gloomy Gus of the Chicago Bears? (1987)
  • Pinocchio in Venice (1991)
  • Street Cop (with Art Spiegelman) (2021)
  • Open House (2023)

Adaptations

  • The Babysitter — 1995 film adaptation (dir. Guy Ferland)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
metafictional, experimental prosefabulation (fable-like narration)satirical and playful voice
Recurring Motifs
American myth (Uncle Sam)politics and media interactioncreator/creation relationshipgame mechanics (chance and rules)

Legacy

Robert Coover is known for metafiction and fabulation, contributed to the rise of electronic literature, and through teaching at Brown helped mentor generations of writers. He expanded possibilities for experimental language and narrative.

Academic Societies

  • Electronic Literature Organization (founder/affiliate)

Archives

  • Brown University archives (potential holdings of papers and correspondence)

In Popular Culture

  • Short story "The Babysitter" was adapted into a 1995 film

Quotes

  • "Which of your books will get you into heaven? 'Spanking the Maid.' God's deep into S&M."
    Source: Interview (Playboy, January 2006) (2006)

Trivia

  • Served in the U.S. Navy from 1953 to 1957, attaining the rank of lieutenant.
  • Taught at Brown University from 1981 to 2012 and helped establish/support the MFA program in Digital Language Arts.
  • Was one of the founders of the Electronic Literature Organization.