Born in 1936 in the Bronx, Don DeLillo navigated a five-year career in advertising before emerging as a prominent American novelist, screenwriter, and playwright. His body of work examines complex themes including consumerism, the Digital Age, nuclear war, and the influence of media, establishing his role as a critical observer of contemporary American culture.
Formative Influences
DeLillo grew up in an Italian-American neighborhood, exposed to both English and Italian. His education at Cardinal Hayes High School and Fordham University preceded his initial pursuit of a career in advertising, where he spent five years at Ogilvy & Mather. During this period, he developed a reading habit that eventually led him to leave his corporate role in 1964 to focus on writing.
Twenty questions, eight minutes on the clock, and a percentile measured against everyone who has taken it. No sign-up.
Take the IQ test →Literary Development
His early influences included modernist authors like James Joyce and Ernest Hemingway, as well as European cinema and jazz. He published his first short story in 1960 and released his debut novel, Americana, in 1971. Despite a decade of significant output, he later noted that his professional ambition took time to materialize during those initial years.
Major Works and Recognition
The 1985 release of White Noise brought him widespread acclaim and the National Book Award for Fiction. He continued to produce significant texts, including the John F. Kennedy-focused novel Libra, the terrorism-themed Mao II, and the expansive historical work Underworld. These contributions to literature earned him the William Dean Howells Medal, the Jerusalem Prize, and the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction.
Fast facts
- Born: 1936, The Bronx, United States
- Education: Cardinal Hayes High School; Fordham University
- Notable Works: White Noise, Libra, Mao II, Underworld, Cosmopolis
- National Book Award for Fiction: 1985
- Jerusalem Prize: 1999
- William Dean Howells Medal: 2000
- Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction: 2013
- Memberships: American Academy of Arts and Letters; American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Questions readers ask
What subjects does Don DeLillo explore in his writing?
His work covers diverse topics such as consumerism, nuclear war, the Digital Age, politics, mathematics, and the complexities of language.
Did Don DeLillo have a career before becoming a novelist?
Yes, he worked as a copywriter at the advertising firm Ogilvy & Mather for five years, leaving that position in 1964.
Achievements
- National Book Award for Fiction — 1985
- Jerusalem Prize — 1999
- Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction — 2013
- William Dean Howells Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Letters — 2000
- PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction — 1992
- Notable work: White Noise
- Notable work: Libra
- Notable work: Mao II
- Notable work: Underworld
