Richard Burgin (writer)
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Richard Burgin (June 30, 1947 – October 22, 2020) was an American fiction writer, editor, composer, critic, and academic. He published nineteen books, and from 1996 through 2013 was a professor of Communications and English at
Saint Louis University Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private Jesuit research university with campuses in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, and Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1818 by Louis William Valentine DuBourg, it is the oldest university west of the Mississip ...
. He was also the founder and publisher of the internationally distributed award-winning literary magazine '' Boulevard''.


Life and career

Richard Burgin was born June 30, 1947, and grew up in
Brookline, Massachusetts Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, in the United States, and part of the Greater Boston, Boston metropolitan area. Brookline borders six of Boston's neighborhoods: Brighton, Boston, Brighton, A ...
. His father, also named Richard Burgin, was the Concertmaster and Associate Conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and his mother, Ruth Posselt, was a concert violinist, who was the first American-born woman violinist to extensively tour Russia. Both his parents were child prodigies. His sister Diana is a professor, translator, and critic of Russian literature. Burgin went to
Brandeis University , mottoeng = "Truth even unto its innermost parts" , established = , type = Private research university , accreditation = NECHE , president = Ronald D. Liebowitz , pro ...
, where he received a B.A. He later received a Master's with highest honors from
Columbia University Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
. His first published book was a collection of interviews he conducted with the Latin American writer,
Jorge Luis Borges Jorge Francisco Isidoro Luis Borges Acevedo (; ; 24 August 1899 – 14 June 1986) was an Argentine short-story writer, essayist, poet and translator, as well as a key figure in Spanish-language and international literature. His best-known bo ...
, while Burgin was still an undergraduate. ''Conversations with Jorge Luis Borges'' (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1969) was the first book-length series of interviews with Borges in English and has been translated and published in ten foreign language editions. A substantial part of the book was reprinted in ''Jorge Luis Borges: The Last Interviews'' by Melville House in 2013. In 1975 he was one of the founding editors of the ''New Boston Review'', now '' Boston Review'' magazine. In 1985 he published ''Conversations with
Isaac Bashevis Singer Isaac Bashevis Singer ( yi, יצחק באַשעװיס זינגער; November 11, 1903 – July 24, 1991) was a Polish-born American Jewish writer who wrote and published first in Yiddish and later translated himself into English with the help ...
'', which to date has been translated into eight foreign language editions.''Who's Who in the World 2010'' (Marquis) A major part appeared as a two-part cover story in the ''
New York Times Magazine ''The New York Times Magazine'' is an American Sunday magazine supplement included with the Sunday edition of ''The New York Times''. It features articles longer than those typically in the newspaper and has attracted many notable contributors. ...
''. His stories have received numerous prizes and awards, including five
Pushcart Prize The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize published by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are ...
s. Among his nineteen published books, ''The Identity Club: New and Selected Stories and Songs'' (Ontario Review Press, 2005 which included a 20-song disc of music composed by Burgin) was listed by ''
The Times Literary Supplement ''The Times Literary Supplement'' (''TLS'') is a weekly literary review published in London by News UK, a subsidiary of News Corp. History The ''TLS'' first appeared in 1902 as a supplement to ''The Times'' but became a separate publication i ...
'' as one of the best books of 2006. ''
The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
'' recently named it one of the 40 best books of fiction in the last decade. The title story of ''The Identity Club'' was reprinted in ''Best American Mystery Stories 2005'' and ''The Ecco Anthology of Contemporary American Short Fiction'' (Harper Perennial, 2008) edited by Joyce Carol Oates. Writing in the Daily Beast/Newsweek, Joyce Carol Oates said, "What Edgar Allan Poe did for the psychotic soul, Richard Burgin does for the deeply neurotic who pass among us disguised as so seemingly 'normal,' we may mistake them for ourselves." In an interview published in the literary journal ''
Pleiades The Pleiades (), also known as The Seven Sisters, Messier 45 and other names by different cultures, is an asterism and an open star cluster containing middle-aged, hot B-type stars in the north-west of the constellation Taurus. At a distance of ...
'', Burgin said, "My goal is and always has been to depict people as honestly as I know them, which means writing about their mistakes as well as their victories, their fear as well as their courage (the two are always mixed), their cruelty or selfishness as well as their kindness." In another interview, with ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'', he said, "One of the things I try to achieve in some of my short stories is a kind of novelistic density or weight. My stories tend to have a number of characters, a period of time going by, and character and thematic development." As a critic, Burgin published numerous essays and reviews in (among many others) ''The New York Times Book Review'', ''
The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'' (also known as the ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'') is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C. It is the most widely circulated newspaper within the Washington metropolitan area and has a large nati ...
'', ''
Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is a daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, owned by Tribune Publishing. Founded in 1847, and formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" (a slogan for which WGN radio and television ar ...
'', '' Partisan Review'', ''
Chicago Review ''Chicago Review'' is a literary magazine founded in 1946 and published quarterly in the Humanities Division at the University of Chicago. The magazine features contemporary poetry, fiction, and criticism, often publishing works in translation and ...
'',''
The Philadelphia Inquirer ''The Philadelphia Inquirer'' is a daily newspaper headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The newspaper's circulation is the largest in both the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the Delaware Valley metropolitan region of Southeastern Pennsy ...
'', and ''
The Boston Globe ''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...
'', where he was a columnist for both the paper and ''The Globe Magazine''. Texas Review Press published Burgin's novel ''Rivers Last Longer'' in November 2010. The anthology ''L'Ecume des Flammes,'' a Richard Burgin Reader, was published in February 2011 (in French) by 13e Note Editions. Reviewing the book in ''
Le Monde ''Le Monde'' (; ) is a French daily afternoon newspaper. It is the main publication of Le Monde Group and reported an average circulation of 323,039 copies per issue in 2009, about 40,000 of which were sold abroad. It has had its own website si ...
'', critic Florence Noiville wrote, "There is something electrifying, even addictive, in the writing of Richard Burgin." In 2011, Johns Hopkins University Press published Burgin's story collection ''Shadow Traffic''. This was followed by ''Hide Island: A Novella and Nine Stories (2013).'' His most recent book is ''Don't Think'', a story collection published by Johns Hopkins University Press in 2016. Burgin founded the literary journal ''Boulevard'' in 1985 and continued to edit it through 2015. In an interview for the book ''Creating Fiction: A Writer's Companion'' (Harcourt Brace, 1995) Burgin said, "At ''Boulevard'' we're open to different styles of writing. We try to be eclectic in the best sense of the word and to be mindful of Nabokov's dictum, 'there's only one school, the school of talent'"." ''Boulevard'' has been called "one of the half-dozen best literary journals" by Poet Laureate Daniel Hoffman. Pulitzer Prize–winning poet Charles Simic, writing in the '' New York Review of Books'' said, "''Boulevard'' s one of the eight magazinesyoung writers and poets, of course, pay attention to...since that's where they hope to publish their work." In April 2015, Burgin edited (with Jessica Rogen) ''The Best Stories from Boulevard, 1985-2015 Volume 1''. In addition to ''Boulevard'' and ''Boston Review'', Burgin was the founding editor of the ''New York Arts Journal''. He taught at
Tufts University Tufts University is a private research university on the border of Medford and Somerville, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1852 as Tufts College by Christian universalists who sought to provide a nonsectarian institution of higher learning. ...
,
Drexel University Drexel University is a private research university with its main campus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Drexel's undergraduate school was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a financier and philanthropist. Founded as Drexel Institute of Art, S ...
, University of California at Santa Barbara. Most recently, he was professor of communication and English at Saint Louis University from 1996 to 2013. Burgin also composed the music and words for six CDs, one of which was co-produced with Gloria Vanderbilt. On October 22, 2020, Burgin died in his sleep at his home in
Clayton, Missouri Clayton is a city in and the seat of St. Louis County, Missouri. It borders the independent city of St. Louis. The population was 17,355 at the 2020 census. Organized in 1877, the city was named after Ralph Clayton, who donated the land for the ...
, after a long battle with
Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms usually emerge slowly, and as the disease worsens, non-motor symptoms becom ...
. His so
Richard Burgin
is a filmmaker, whom Burgin collaborated with on two short films based on his short stories, ''All Ears'' (2016) and ''The Identity Club'' (2018). After his death
''Fang''
(2022) was dedicated to Burgin in the end credits.


Books


Selected works

* ''L'Ecume des Flammes'' (A Richard Burgin reader published in French by 13e Note Editions, 2011)


Novels

* ''The Memory Center'' (2012) (Novella) * ''Rivers Last Longer'' (2010) * ''Ghost Quartet'' (1999)


Short story collections

* ''Don't Think'' (April 2016) * ''Hide Island: A Novella and Nine Stories'' (2013) * ''Shadow Traffic: Stories'' (2011) * ''The Conference on Beautiful Moments'' (2007) * ''The Identity Club: New and Selected Stories and Songs'' (2006) * ''The Spirit Returns'' (2001) * ''Fear of Blue Skies'' (1998) * ''Private Fame'' (1991) * ''Man Without Memory'' (1989)


Interview Books

* ''Conversations with Isaac Bashevis Singer'' (1985) * ''Conversations with Jorge Luis Borges'' (1969)


Edited Books

* ''Jorge Luis Borges: Conversations'' (1998) * ''The Best Stories from Boulevard - 1985-2015 Volume 1 with Jessica Rogen'' (2015)


Collaborations

* ''Stories and Dream Boxes'' with art by Gloria Vanderbilt (2002) * ''The Man With Missing Parts'', a novella with J. M. Alonso (1973)


Prizes and anthologies

* ''Jorge Luis Borges: The Last Interview and Other Conversations'' - "Original Mythology", pp. 3–124 (From ''Conversations with Jorge Juis Borges, 1968, by Richard Burgin)'' (2013) * ''New Jersey Noir'' - "Atlantis" (fiction) (2011) (Akashic Books) * ''New Stories from the Midwest 2011'' - "Do You Like This Room" - (Ohio University Press) * ''Le Livre Des Felures: 31 Histoires Cousues De Fil Noir'' - "La Nuit Oceane" (fiction) (2010)(13E Note Editions) * ''The Best American Mystery Stories 2005'' - "The Identity Club" (2005) (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) * ''So the Story Goes'' - "Bodysurfing" (fiction) (2005) (The Johns Hopkins University Press) * ''The Ecco Anthology of Contemporary American Short Fiction'' selected by Joyce Carol Oates - "The Identity Club" (fiction) (2008)(Harper Perennial) * ''The Show I'll Never Forget'' - "Bill Evans at the Jazz Workshop" (Essay) (2007) (Da Capo Press) * 2007
Pushcart Prize The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize published by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are ...
- "Vacation" (fiction) (Pushcart Press) * ''Witness: Our Best 2987–2004 Fiction, Poetry & Nonfiction'' - "Bodysurfing" (fiction) (2004) (Michigan State University Press) * 2004 ''Under the Arch: St. Louis Stories'' - "The Park..." (fiction) (2004) (Antares Press) * 2002
Pushcart Prize The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize published by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are ...
- "Miles" (fiction) (Pushcart Press) * 1999
Pushcart Prize The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize published by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are ...
- "Bodysurfing" (fiction) (Pushcart Press) * ''American Fiction Volume 10: The Best Unpublished Short Stories by Emerging Writers'' - "Nouina's House" (1999) (New Rivers Press) * ''Critical Essays on Isaac Bashevis Singer'' - "The Sly Modernism of Isaac Singer" (Essay) (1996) (G. I. Hall & Co.) * ''The Philomathean Society Anthology of Poetry'' - "Concertmaster, for My Father" and "Necessary Night" (Poems) (1996) (Philomathean Society Press) * ''Creating Fiction: A Writer's Companion'' - "Emotional Real Estate: An Interview with Richard Burgin" (Interview)(1995)(Harcourt Brace College Publishers) * ''Isaac Bashevis Singer: Conversations'' - "Conversations with Isaac Bashevis Singer" (Interview) (1992)(University Press of Mississippi) * 1986
Pushcart Prize The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize published by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are ...
- "The Victims" (fiction) (Pushcart Press) * ''Storytellers: A Serial Fiction Anthology'' - "Man Without Memory" (Fiction) (1986) (Foundation for Arts Resources) * 1982
Pushcart Prize The Pushcart Prize is an American literary prize published by Pushcart Press that honors the best "poetry, short fiction, essays or literary whatnot" published in the small presses over the previous year. Magazine and small book press editors are ...
- "Notes on Mrs. Slaughter" (fiction) (Pushcart Press) * ''Anthology of Magazine Verse & Yearbook of American Poetry'' - "Concertmaster" (Poetry) (1981) (Monitor Book Company, Inc.) * ''Vol. 1 American Writing Today'' - "The Sly Modernism of Isaac Singer" (Essay) (1980) (Forum Series) * ''Behind the Scenes: Theater and Film Interview From the Transatlantic Review'' - "Jorge Luis Borges" (Interview) (1971) (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.)


Periodicals edited

* founding editor of '' Boston Review'' (formerly ''Boston Arts Review''), 1975 * founding editor of '' New York Arts Journal'', 1975–1982 * founding and current editor of '' Boulevard'', 1985–present


CDs composed and written by Richard Burgin

* ''The Trouble with Love'' (2008) (CD Baby) * ''Don't Go There'' (Included with the book ''The Identity Club: New and Selected Stories and Songs'') (2005) * ''Cold Ocean'' (2005) * ''Gloria Vanderbilt's Doll of Dreams'' (2005) (Produced by Gloria Vanderbilt) * ''House of Sun'' (2001) * ''In All of the World'' (2000)


References


External links


Richard Burgin Official WebsiteRichard Burgin on IMDbBooks by Richard Burgin on AmazonBoulevard Magazine Official Website
in
The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...

Richard Burgin interview by 13ENote EditionsRichard Burgin interviewed on Fox 2 News
* ttp://articles.philly.com/1998-03-01/living/25746279_1_richard-burgin-extinction-universe Richard Burgin interviewed in ''The Philadelphia Inquirer''br>Richard Burgin interviewed in ''Missouri Life''Richard Burgin reading at University of Nevada Las Vegas 2006Richard Burgin reading at Boulevard's 10th Anniversary 1995Richard Burgin reading at Temple University 1991Richard Burgin's CD ''The Trouble With Love'' (2008)

Richard Burgin's CD ''Cold Ocean'' (2005)Richard Burgin's CD ''Burgin Speaks'' (1997)Eulogy for Richard Burgin
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burgin, Richard 1947 births 2020 deaths American male writers Writers from Brookline, Massachusetts Brandeis University alumni Columbia University alumni Saint Louis University faculty