Dave Eggers

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Dave Eggers

Role / Field:

American writer, editor, and publisher known for memoir and literary ventures.

Born:

1970-03-12

Century / Era:

1970s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Foundations

Dave Eggers (born March 12, 1970) is an American writer, editor, and publisher. As an author, he has written fiction, non-fiction, and children's books. His 2000 memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, became a bestseller and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. Eggers is also the founder of several literary and philanthropic ventures, including the literary journal Timothy McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, the literacy project 826 Valencia, and the human rights non-profit organisation Voice of Witness.

Key Developments & Impact

Additionally, he founded ScholarMatch, a program that connects donors with students needing funds for college tuition. His writing has appeared in publications including The New Yorker, Esquire, and The New York Times Magazine. Eggers was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and raised in a family with three siblings. His father, John K. Eggers (1936–1991), was an attorney, and his mother, Heidi McSweeney Eggers (1940–1992), was a schoolteacher.

Enduring Legacy

The family moved to Lake Forest, Illinois, where Eggers attended public high school and was a classmate of actor Vince Vaughn. Eggers attended the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, pursuing...

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1936: 1936 Milestone — Eggers (1936–1991), was an attorney, and his mother, Heidi McSweeney Eggers (1940–1992), was a schoolteacher.
2. 1970 (1970-03-12): Birth of Dave Eggers — American writer, editor, and publisher known for memoir and literary ventures.
3. 2000: 2000 Milestone — His 2000 memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, became a bestseller and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Dave Eggers

True or False: “Dave Eggers' memoir, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, was immediately recognized as a literary masterpiece.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While it became a bestseller and a Pulitzer finalist, its initial recognition was more varied, marking a significant career milestone rather than immediate universal acclaim.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. H. M. Jones — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering British historian of classical antiquity, specializing in the later Roman Empire.
• Abraham Maslow — Contemporary (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering American psychologist known for the Hierarchy of Needs and self-actualization theory.
• Alan Shearer — Contemporary (Born in 1970) (1970): English football legend, record goalscorer, and respected pundit.
• Alexander Mackenzie (explorer) — Shared historical date (03-12 · Died) (1820): Scottish explorer and fur trader famed for crossing North America north of Mexico.
• André Le Nôtre — Shared historical date (03-12 · Born) (1613): Master French landscape architect, famed for the formal gardens of Versailles.
• Albert Ayler — Historical peer (Died in 1970) (1970): Pioneering avant-garde jazz saxophonist known for ecstatic, spiritual improvisation.
• Alexander Kerensky — Historical peer (Died in 1970) (1970): Russian revolutionary who led the Provisional Government during the tumultuous period of 1917.
• A. D. Hope — Historical peer (Died in 2000) (2000): Australian poet and essayist celebrated for his satirical wit and academic career.
• A. E. van Vogt — Historical peer (Died in 2000) (2000): Influential Canadian-American science fiction writer known for bizarre narratives.
• A. E. Housman — Historical peer (Died in 1936) (1936): English classicist and poet, renowned for his scholarship and melancholic verse.
• 1970 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1970
• March 12 (03-12) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on March 12

Frequently Asked Questions about Dave Eggers