The 1998 novel The Hours secured Michael Cunningham global recognition, earning both the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the PEN/Faulkner Award in 1999. Born in Cincinnati in 1952, the American writer has built a career spanning prose, creative writing, and film screenwriting, while holding faculty positions at institutions such as Brooklyn College and Yale University.
Early Education and Career
Raised in La Cañada Flintridge, California, Cunningham attended La Cañada High School before completing his undergraduate studies at Stanford University. He later enrolled at the University of Iowa, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. During his time at Iowa, he received a Michener Fellowship and secured early publications in periodicals including the Atlantic Monthly and The Paris Review.
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Cunningham published his debut novel, Golden States, in 1984. His subsequent works, such as A Home at the End of the World in 1990 and Flesh and Blood in 1995, further established his standing in contemporary literature. His short story 'White Angel' was incorporated into A Home at the End of the World and selected for The Best American Short Stories, 1989. Throughout the 1990s, he received several accolades, including a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1993, and a Whiting Award in 1995.
Screenwriting and Professional Engagement
Beyond prose, Cunningham has engaged heavily in film and editorial work. He co-wrote the screenplay for the 2007 film Evening, adapted from Susan Minot’s novel, and served as a producer on the project. He also contributed to the revival of the Tales of the City miniseries in 2018 as a consulting producer. His editorial projects include Laws for Creations, a collection of poetry and prose by Walt Whitman. He has served as a judge for NPR's Three Minute Fiction contests and is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Ongoing Literary Contributions
Cunningham's bibliography remains extensive, featuring novels such as Specimen Days, By Nightfall, The Snow Queen, and his 2023 work, Day. His 2015 short story collection, A Wild Swan and Other Tales, explores reimagined fairy tales. He has also authored non-fiction, including the 2002 travelogue Land's End: A Walk in Provincetown and the 2020 volume About Time: Fashion and Duration, co-authored with Andrew Bolton.
Fast facts
- Born: 1952, Cincinnati
- Education: Stanford University, University of Iowa
- Primary awards: Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, PEN/Faulkner Award
- Notable novel: The Hours (1998)
- Professional roles: Novelist, screenwriter, university teacher
- Citizenship: United States
- Affiliation: American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Questions readers ask
What is Michael Cunningham's professional status in academia?
He serves as a Professor in the Practice of Creative Writing at Yale University and has previously taught at Brooklyn College.
How does Cunningham view the classification of his work as 'gay literature'?
While he is gay and writes about gay characters, he has stated he dislikes being defined exclusively as a gay writer.
Achievements
- Educated at Stanford University, University of Iowa and La Cañada High School
- Worked as writer, screenwriter and novelist
