Edwin O’Connor

After his graduation from the University of Notre Dame, EDWIN O’CONNOR worked as a radio announcer for the Yankee Network. In 1946 he sold his first magazine piece, a satire on radio, to the ATLANTIC.Since then he has written four novels: THE ORACLE,published in 1951; THE LAST HURRAH,which won the Atlantic prize in 1956; THE EDGE OF SADNESS, which received the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961; and I WAS DANCING, published last spring. The story which follows is the opening episode in Mr. O’ Connor’s new novel, as yet untitled.

A native of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and a graduate of Notre Dame in 1939, EDWIN O’CONNOR is on his way to becoming the most distinguished novelist in New England, THE LIST HURRAH winner of the Atlantic Fiction Contest in 1956, was received here with national acclaim and has since been translated into a dozen foreign editions Five years have gone info the planning and writing of his new novel, THE EDGE OF SADNESS, a pensive, penetrating study of the dedication of a Catholic priest. The ATLANTIC published Mr. O’Connor s first short story and is proud to be the publisher of his books.

A New Englander who was educated at the University of Notre Dame, EDWIN O’CONNOR does his writing in the winter on Beacon Hill and in the summer at Wellfleet. His novel, THE LAST HURRAH, one of the most widely read books of 1956, is now being filmed, and his new book, BENJY, a Ferocious Fairy Tale, will be off press this month.

EDWIN O’CONNOR has written several articles about radio and television for these pages. He is the author of The Oracle,the central character of which is an omniscient and thoroughly fraudulent network commentator.