Frequently Asked Questions
The answers to these Frequently Asked Questions about Richard Brautigan, his life, and his works provide a convenient entry into specific nodes of
BRAUTIGAN.net. Links are provided to additional information and resources.
Richard Gary Brautigan (1935-1984) was an American writer popular during the late 1960s and early 1970s and is often noted for using humor and emotion to propel a unique vision of hope and imagination throughout his body of work which includes ten books of poetry, eleven novels, one collection of short stories, and miscellaneous non-fiction pieces. His easy-to-read yet idiosyncratic prose style is seen as the best characterization of the cultural electricity prevalent in San Francisco, Brautigan's home, during the ebbing of the Beat Generation and the emergence of the counterculture movement. Brautigan's best-known works include his novel, Trout Fishing in America (1967), his collection of poetry, The Pill versus The Springhill Mine Disaster (1968), and his collection of stories, Revenge of the Lawn (1971).
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The Biography node provides more detailed information about Brautigan's life and work. Use the links below to access information about the decades of Brautigan's life. Each link opens a new node.
All rights to all Brautigan's works are controlled by his daughther, Ianthe Brautigan.
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For questions or information about any rights to any of Brautigan's works, contact, in writing, Ianthe Brautigan's agent:
Ms. Sarah Lazin
Sarah Lazin Books
9 West 21st Street, Suite #501
New York, NY 10001
212-989-5757
website
Brautigan was mysterious about his family, sometimes saying he had none, sometimes weaving them into his writing in imaginative ways. A clear picture of his family history is, therefore, confusing. We do know, however, that he did not know his real father, that he had several step-fathers, and that he abandoned all family ties when he left his boyhood home. He married twice and is survived by a daughter.
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The Brautigan Family Genealogy node provides an overview of Brautigan's family.
The Chronology node provides more extensive information about Brautigan's family.
Brautigan's body of work includes ten books of poetry. The best known is probably The Pill versus The Springhill Mine Disaster, published in 1968. In addition to this book, Brautigan published nine other poetry collections, as well as a number of individually published poems that were never collected.
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The Poetry node provides first publication and other bio-bibliographical information about each of Brautigan's ten published books of poetry and his uncollected individual poems. For each book, poems are listed in order of their appearance. Uncollected Poems are listed chronologically, with first publication information provided. A Poetry Title Index is provided for easy access to particular poems. Use the links below for quick access to more information about specific books of poetry. Each link opens a new node.
Brautigan's body of work includes eleven novels, two posthumously. The best known is Trout Fishing in America, published in 1967. Each novel was unique and demonstrated Brautigan's experimentation with different literary genres.
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The Novel node provides first publication and other bio-bibliographical information about Brautigan's eleven published novels. Use the links below for quick access to more information about specific novels. Each link opens a new node.
Brautigan's early books are noted for the women appearing on the covers. Use the links for more information.
Brautigan's body of work includes one collection of short stories, Revenge of the Lawn, published in 1971, which many critics and fans believe represent his best work. Other stories were published individually and never collected.
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The Stories node provides first publication and other bio-bibliographical information about Brautigan's stories. For each collection, stories are listed in order of their appearance. Uncollected Stories are listed chronologically. A Stories Title Index is provided for easy access to particular stories. Use the links below for quick access to more information about specific story collections. Each link opens a new node.
Several of Brautigan's works were published in collected editions. They provide a way to read his earlier, out of print, novels, poetry, and stories.
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The Collections node provides information about each of Brautigan's collected works. Use the links below for quick access to more information about collections of Brautigan's writing. Each link opens a new node.
Brautigan wrote a number of essays, reviews, and promotional blurbs. Each was distinctive and unmistakably a product of Brautigan's writing style.
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The Non-Fiction node provides first publication and other bio-bibliographical information about Brautigan's known non-fiction writings. Use the links below for quick access to more information about Brautigan's non-fiction writing.
Brautigan recorded one record album, Listening to Richard Brautigan where he read selections from three of his novels and several poems. He also recorded a single poem, "Love's Not the Way to Treat a Friend", on an album released by the band Mad River.
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The Recordings node provides information about Brautigan's recordings of his poetry and stories. Use the links below for quick access to more information about Brautigan's recordings. Each link opens a new node.
Brautigan wrote a screenplay for a movie titled Trailer during the Summer of 1982 with Brad Donovan. The project never advanced beyond the first draft. LEARN more >>>
Hal Ashby, director of Being There and Harold and Maude, purchased the screenplay rights to Brautigan's novel The Hawkline Monster. Brautigan wrote the first draft of a screenplay based on the novel in 1974 but when he refused to make requested changes the project was abandoned.
A screenplay of the novel A Confederate General from Big Sur was written in 1972 by Brandon French but the project was never pursued beyond this first draft.
A short film adaptation of So The Wind Won't Blow It All Away was made and briefly shown by Brautigan's daughter, Ianthe, and her husband, Paul Swensen. LEARN more >>>
An adaptation of the short story "The Weather in San Francisco" was produced and released by a multicultural group of London-based film makers as "The Weather in Somerset" in 2003.
Although it had nothing to do with any of his writing, Brautigan appeared, briefly, in a 1974 film titled "Tarpon" directed by Christian Odasso and Guy de la Valdéne.
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The Screenplays and Movies node provides more information about screenplays written by Brautigan and others, as well as Brautigan's appearance in the movie Tarpon.
The "Movies" portion of the Responses node provides more information about movies inspired by Brautigan's writings.
Materials by or related to Brautigan are collected in several library archives and special collections. Most are accessible by following specific library procedures.
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The Papers node provides information about Brautigan's papers, letters, and other documents. Use the links below for quick access to more information about Brautigan's papers, letter, and documents.
Following his initial fame, Brautigan was a writer the critics loved to hate. There are many reviews of his poetry, novels, stories, collections, and recordings. There are also a large number of general reviews and critiques concerning his place in American literature.
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The Reviews node provides annotated reviews of Brautigan, his work, and his place in American literature. Many of these reviews are also accessible through individual pages focusing on specific Brautigan publications. Use the links below for quick access to more information about reviews of Brautigan's work.
Just as he did in life, Brautigan continues to inspire readers, writers, scholars, musicians, and artists, even now, two decades after his death. Readers continue to be attracted to his easy-to-read yet idiosyncratic prose style. Writers continue to emulate the humor and imagination Brautigan's writing style, or at least refer to Brautigan and his works. Scholars continue to argue Brautigan's place in American literature. And musicians and artists continue to interpret his work, or are inspired to create their own.
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The Responses node provides information about Brautigan's continuing inspiration. Use the links below for quick access to more information about Brautigan's legacy.
A large number of obituaries, memoirs, and tributes were written for Brautigan following his death in 1984. Many provide insight into Brautigan and his work. Others provide insight into how he affected and/or inspired his readers.
Use the links below for quick access to more information about memoirs, obituaries, and tributes written for Brautigan.
An extensive alphabetic index of people and places associated with Brautigan's life and writings is available.
Access this A-Z Index here
