“I was always interested in French poetry sort of as a sideline to my own work, I was translating contemporary French poets. That kind of spilled out into translation as a way to earn money, pay for food and put bread on the table.”

American writer, novelist, memoirist, poet, and filmmaker

Paul Auster was an American writer, novelist, memoirist, poet, and filmmaker. He is known for fiction and nonfiction that helped make him a distinctive voice in late 20th and early 21st century American letters. His work includes The New York Trilogy, Moon Palace, The Music of Chance, True Tales of American Life, The Book of Illusions, The Brooklyn Follies, Invisible, Sunset Park, Winter Journal, 4 3 2 1, and Bloodbath Nation. His books have been translated into more than 40 languages.