Perfume river examines family ties with flashbacks from the viet nam war. Books by robert olen butler author of a good scent from a. Perfume river by robert olen butler the new york times. Robert olen butler returns to vietnam tallahassee democrat. Its been 45 years since robert olen butler returned from vietnam as an army translator and 23. In 1967, robert quinlan enlists, hoping to secure a noncombatant role in. Perfume river is a powerful work that asks profound questions about betrayal and loyalty. A domestic life called into question is at the heart of robert olen butler s latest novel, perfume river. Oct 09, 2016 robert olen butlers perfume river explores allure of vietnam. You are eligible for a full refund if no shippingpasseligible orders have been placed. Robert olen butler s perfume river explores allure of vietnam. Robert olen butler stopped by the ringling college of art and design this past november to read in our visiting writers forum speaker series. Robert olen butler on perfume river at book expo america 2016. Two brothers, ages 68 and 70, revisit their lives as their father lies dying.
Butlers assured, elegant novel explores a family fractured by the vietnam war as its members face the losses of age. Robert olen butler, professor, ma, university of iowa 1969 specializes in fiction and screenwriting. Butler was born in granite city, illinois, to robert olen butler sr. In his pulitzer prizewinning story collection, a good scent from a strange. Nov 14, 2016 even though pulitzer prizewinner and florida state professor robert olen butlers new novel, perfume river, is about the vietnam war and its aftermath, it is his most tallahasseecentric. Robert olen butler, the pulitzer prizewinning author of a good scent from a strange mountain, has written eloquent works about vietnam and its effect on families. Perfume river by robert olen butler overview from one of americas most important writers, the pulitzer prizewinning author of a good scent from a strange mountain, comes perfume river, an exquisite novel that examines family ties and the legacy of the vietnam war through the portrait of a single north florida family. Robert olen butlers vietnam south dakota humanities council. Pulitzer prizewinning author robert olen butler continues his decadeslong career as a distinguished fiction writer with the release of his 16th novel, perfume river, by atlantic monthly press. Ive read and admired short fiction by robert olen butler in the past so i was highly intrigued to read his new novel perfume river.
Join facebook to connect with robert olen butler and others you may know. Perfume river is a powerful work that asks profound questions about betrayal and. In his pulitzer prizewinning story collection, a good scent from a strange mountain, he presented the. Even though pulitzer prizewinner and florida state professor robert olen butler s new novel, perfume river, is about the vietnam war and its aftermath, it is his most tallahasseecentric.
Robert olen butlers perfume river is haunted by the vietnam war. At first glance, robert olen butler s perfume river seems like an application for a national book award. Robert olen butler has published sixteen novelsthe alleys of eden, sun dogs, countrymen of bones, on distant ground, wabash, the deuce, they whisper, the deep green sea, mr. Its been 45 years since robert olen butler returned from vietnam as an army translator and 23 since he was awarded the pulitzer prize for a. Perfume river by robert olen butler 2017, paperback for. Robert olen butler has 71 books on goodreads with 60862 ratings. From one of americas most important writers, perfume river is an exquisite novel that examines family ties and the legacy of the vietnam war through the portrait of a single north florida family. Aug 08, 2017 a profound and poignant novel that continues butlers exploration of america, war, and the family, as begun in a good scent from a strange mountain and a small hotel, perfume river is a powerful and moving portrait of the challenges of close relationships, the resonance of personal choice, and the american experience. Robert olen butler s perfume river is haunted by the vietnam war. Robert olen butlers perfume river is haunted by the. Perfume river is a novel caught in a feedback loop.
View all episodes click here to watch the lost episode 8 the lost eigth session of robert olen butler s inside creative writing, in which butler suffers a setback and writes what he later describes as abstract crap. In this case, the customer care team will remove your account from autorenewal to ensure you are not charged for an additional year and you can continue to use the subscription until the end of your subscription term. He is also the author of six short story collections and a book on the creative process, from where you dream. Sep 25, 2016 perfume river by robert olen butler 273 pp. Robert had been a serving soldier and darla was a protester against. Perfume river by robert olen butler this is the story of the quinlan family. Robert olen butler is the pulitzer prizewinning author of sixteen novels, including hell, a small hotel, and the christopher marlowe cobb series. Robert olen butlers perfume river explores allure of vietnam. The pulitzer prizewinning author gave a reading from his new novel on home turf. Aug 07, 2016 pulitzer prizewinning author robert olen butler continues his decadeslong career as a distinguished fiction writer with the release of his 16th novel, perfume river, by atlantic monthly press. Buy perfume river by robert olen butler online at alibris. Butler s first short story collection, a good scent from a strange mountain, winner of the 1993 pulitzer. Robert olen butler s most popular book is a good scent from a strange mountain. Spaceman, fair warning, hell, a small hotel, the hot country, the star of istanbul, the empire of night, perfume riverand six volumes of short fictiontabloid dreams, had a.
Robert and darla met at the time of the vietnam war. Robert olen butler is an american author that is best known for his collection of short stories from 1993 that won him the pulitzer prize. The authors experience as an army intelligence agent during that period gives him a great advantage in creating what many critics say is best novel yet by the pulitzer prize winner. Robert olen butler born january 20, 1945 is an american fiction writer. The protagonist, a man in his late 60s named robert, is a tenured professor at a. Robert quinlan is a seventyyearold historian, teaching at florida state university, where his wife darla is also tenured. Sep 18, 2017 robert olen butler, a finalist for the 2017 dayton literary peace prize for perfume river, is a featured author at the 2017 south dakota festival of books. The protagonist, robert quinlan, 70 like the author, a professor at florida state. He is the author of sixteen novels and four collections of short stories. From one of americas most important writers, perfume river is an exquisite novel that examines family ties and the legacy of the vietnam war through the. Robert olen butler on perfume river at book expo america 2016 by pbs books. That question is at the heart of robert olen butler s poignant new novel, perfume river. Robert olen butler is the pulitzer prizewinning author of seventeen novels, including hell, a small hotel, perfume river, and the christopher marlowe cobb. Its been 45 years since robert olen butler returned from vietnam as an army translator and 23 since he was awarded the pulitzer prize for a good scent from a strange mountain, stories of vietnamese immigrants in america.
May 14, 2016 robert olen butler discusses perfume river with pbs newshour correspondent jeffrey brown at book expo america 2016. The poignant new literary novel from pulitzer prize winner by robert olen butler. Perfume river another modern american classic robert olen butler in my mind is one of the best american authors of the moment, whose novels and short stories are second to none and easy to see why he is a pulitzer prize winner. The stain of defeat and disillusionment from the vietnam war popped. Oct 17, 2016 robert olen butlers perfume river is haunted by the vietnam war. Its protagonist, robert, a 70yearold history professor, lives in comfortable ennui with. Browse robert olen butlers bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. Perfume river by robert olen butler 2016, hardcover for. Discover more authors youll love listening to on audible. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The protagonist, robert quinlan, 70 like the author, a professor at florida state university like the author, served a couple of years.
Robert olen butlers perfume river explores allure of. Likely theyre in the kitchen, because mom walks out, brushing past. Robert olen butler s lyrical and poignant collection of stories about the aftermath of the vietnam war and its impact on the vietnamese was acclaimed by critics. Robert olen butler audio books, best sellers, author bio. Perfume river by robert olen butler lonesome reader. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world more open and connected.
Scott fitzgerald award for outstanding achievement in american literature. The vietnam war still has a hold on the fiction of robert. Joined by fellow vietnam veteran tim obrien, butler brings a strong veteran presence to the 2017 festival. His shortstory collection a good scent from a strange mountain was awarded the pulitzer prize for fiction in 1993. He has twice won a national magazine award in fiction and received the 20 f. Butler s assured, elegant novel explores a family fractured by the vietnam war as its members face the losses of age.
Robert olen butler is the pulitzer prizewinning author of seventeen novels, including hell, a small hotel, perfume river, and the christopher marlowe cobb series. He returns to these themes in perfume river, a heartbreaking story of fathers and sons and their expectations and disappointments. Oct 14, 2016 a domestic life called into question is at the heart of robert olen butlers latest novel, perfume river. Robert olen butler s lyrical and poignant collection of stories about the aftermath of the vietnam war and its impact on the vietnamese was acclaimed by critics across the nation and won the pulitzer prize in 1993. View all episodes click here to watch the lost episode 8 the lost eigth session of robert olen butler s inside creative writing, in which butler suffers a.
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