Jonathan Franzen

Dubbed "Great American Novelist" by Time, Jonathan Franzen is undoubtedly a key literary figure in the United States, having firmly established his status with the expansive novels The Corrections (2001) and Freedom (2010). A Midwestern native, Franzen has drawn extensively on his upbringing in Middle America, with his first novel, The Twenty-Seventh City (1988), set in St. Louis, where he spent much of his childhood. His second book, Strong Motion (1992), met with muted response, and he didn't prominently resurface until the publication of his third novel, The Corrections (2001), a family saga that became a major literary success. Taking his time with the follow-up, Franzen unveiled the eagerly anticipated Freedom in 2010, with its generally warm reception proving that The Corrections was far from a fluke. Unabashedly outspoken and committed to intriguing portrayals of American families, Franzen seemed intent on maintaining this revered rank by staying true to his singular vision.