Origins & Early Life

David Foster Wallace (February 21, 1962 – September 12, 2008) was an American writer and professor who published novels, short stories, and essays. He is best known for his second novel, Infinite Jest (1996). In 2008, David Ulin wrote in the Los Angeles Times that Wallace was "one of the most influential and innovative writers of the last twenty years". Wallace grew up in Illinois, and graduated from Amherst College and the University of Arizona.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His Amherst honors thesis on philosophy and modal logic was adapted into his debut novel The Broom of the System (1987). Wallace taught English and creative writing at Illinois State University, Emerson College, and Pomona College. As a writer of "post-postmodern" literature, Wallace intentionally avoided many tropes of postmodern art, including forms of irony and metafiction, asserting in 1990 that such tropes were "agents of a great despair and stasis" in contemporary American culture. He often wrote about tennis, which he played as a teenager; Infinite Jest is partly set in a tennis academy. The novel is known for its length; unconventional narrative structure, involving numerous endnotes; and exemplification of the encyclopedic novel and...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Andrey Lavrov — Contemporary (Born in 1962) (1962): Three-time Olympic gold medalist and decorated Russian handball legend.
• Arthur Compton — Contemporary (Died in 1962) (1962): Pioneering physicist known for the Compton effect and contributions to nuclear science.
• Auguste Piccard — Contemporary (Died in 1962) (1962): Swiss physicist, inventor, and pioneer of stratospheric and abyssal exploration.
• Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn — Contemporary (Died in 2008) (2008): Dissident author who exposed Soviet repression, notably the Gulag system.
• Arthur C. Clarke — Contemporary (Died in 2008) (2008): Pioneering science fiction writer, futurist, and popularizer of space travel.
• Bo Diddley — Contemporary (Died in 2008) (2008): Pioneering blues guitarist whose signature rhythm influenced rock, pop, and hip-hop.
• Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi — Shared historical date (02-21 · Died) (1543): Imam and General of the Adal Sultanate, known for conquering Abyssinia.
• Alan Rickman — Shared historical date (02-21 · Born) (1946): Iconic English actor celebrated for his distinctive voice and powerful stage presence.
• Alexander Radishchev — Shared historical date (09-12 · Died) (1802): Pioneering Russian social critic whose work exposed the harsh realities of Tsarist Russia.
• Anne Bracegirdle — Shared historical date (09-12 · Died) (1748): Renowned English actress and soprano, celebrated for her vocal performances.
• 1962 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1962
• February 21 (02-21) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on February 21
• 2008 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2008
• September 12 (09-12) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on September 12