Jonathan Franzen

Jonathan Franzen grew up in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis, the son of a civil engineer and a homemaker. An introspective child, he studied German at Swarthmore College and later spent time in Germany on a Fulbright fellowship, an experience that deepened his interest in European literature and translation. He supported himself early on with freelance writing and editing while working on his first novel.

His debut, The Twenty-Seventh City (1988), a sprawling story set in St. Louis, drew attention for its ambition. It was followed by Strong Motion (1992), but the book's modest sales left him frustrated. In a 1996 Harper's essay, "Perchance to Dream," he lamented the cultural decline of the serious social novel, an argument that anticipated the themes of his breakthrough.

The Corrections (2001) made him a literary celebrity. Tracing a Midwestern family through a fractious Christmas, the novel won the National Book Award and became a bestseller. Its selection for Oprah Winfrey's book club stirred controversy when Franzen publicly worried about the label of a "book club" pick, an episode that became a talking point about authorship and commerce. He collected essays in How to Be Alone (2002).

Freedom (2010) reinforced his reputation; Time magazine featured him on its cover under the headline "Great American Novelist." He continued to translate and write essays, publishing The Kraus Project (2013) and The End of the End of the Earth (2018), the latter reflecting his passion for birdwatching and conservation. Purity (2015) and Crossroads (2021), the opening of a planned trilogy, extended his examination of family and American life. He lives with his wife, the writer Kathryn Chetkovich.

Jonathan Franzen was born on August 17, 1959 in Western Springs, Illinois, United States. In Cardology (Destiny Cards), August 17, 1959 corresponds to the Nine of Clubs, making the Nine of Clubs his Birth Card.

In numerology, the name adds another layer to the birth-date profile. The letters of a person’s name are used to explore inner motivation, personality, expression, and the qualities they bring into relationships and everyday life. Explore how his original name Jonathan Earl Franzen influences his life and personality.