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DeLillo

Don DeLillo (1936–2021) was an American novelist, essayist, and playwright whose work is a cornerstone of late 20th-century American literature. Born in New York City to Italian American parents, he studied at Fordham University (BA, 1958) and Cornell University (MA, 1960). He taught writing at various colleges while developing his early novels.

DeLillo's first novels, Americana (1971) and End Zone (1972), established his interest in American life and violence.

His monumental Underworld (1997) surveys Cold War America and media through an expansive narrative; Falling Man

DeLillo died in New York City on November 20, 2021, at age 85. His work has influenced

The
Names
(1982)
and
White
Noise
(1985)
brought
him
wider
recognition;
White
Noise
in
particular
is
widely
regarded
as
a
breakthrough
and
a
defining
work
of
postmodern
fiction,
exploring
consumer
culture,
media
saturation,
and
mortality.
Libra
(1988)
reimagined
historical
events
surrounding
Lee
Harvey
Oswald;
Mao
II
(1991)
focuses
on
the
politics
of
fame
and
the
role
of
the
writer.
(2007)
addresses
the
aftermath
of
the
9/11
attacks.
Zero
K
(2016)
and
other
later
works
continued
his
exploration
of
memory,
faith,
and
technology
in
late
capitalism.
DeLillo's
prose
is
known
for
its
erudite
allusion,
fragmentary
syntax,
and
a
habit
of
juxtaposing
high
culture
with
popular
culture.
generations
of
writers
and
remains
a
central
reference
in
discussions
of
postmodernism,
postwar
American
literature,
and
contemporary
realism.