"An incisive, gossipy page-turner of a biography." -Janet Maslin, "The New York Times"

"An engaging, surprising and empathetic page-turner"-- Deirdre Donahue, "USA Today"

"The first truly exacting look into the life of a man who has fascinated so many."--"Esquire Magazine"

"Engaging and well paced, the book fills in the reality behind Vonnegut's work"--Christen Aragoni, "The American Prospect"

"This first authorized biography probes both Vonnegut's creative struggles and family life, detailing his transition from 'the bowery of the book world' to counterculture icon. Shields delivers a vivid recreation of Vonnegut's ghastly WWII experiences as a POW during the Dresden firebombing that became the basis for "Slaughterhouse-Five." . . . Tragedies and triumphs are contrasted throughout, along with an adroit literary analysis that highlights obscure or overlooked influences on Vonnegut. . . . With access to more than 1,500 letters, Shields conducted hundreds of interviews to produce this engrossing, definitive biography."--"PW," Starred Review

"This book fills a much-needed gap, since very little seems to be known about the late Kurt Vonnegut, despite his immense popularity over almost five decades. Shields did a thorough job, interviewing Vonnegut and his friends and family, and examining many letters. Vonnegut was one of the most influential authors of the late twentieth century, and this biography is essential reading."--Anis Shivani, "Huffington Post"

"Provide[s] a definitive and disturbing account of the late author, whose ambition and talent transformed him from an obscure science fiction writer to a countercultural icon."--Steve Almond, "The Boston Globe"

"[A] thorough and excellent new biography." - Tim Gebhart, "The Seattle Post-Intelligencer"

"The richest portrait of Vonnegut to date."--Craig Fehrman, "Indianapolis Monthly"

"[A] balanced, well-researched study of a flawed yet powerfully imaginative artist."--Ariel Gonzalez, "Miami Herald Tr

CHARLES J. SHIELDS is the author of "And So It Goes: Kurt Vonnegut: A Life, Mockingbird: A Portrait of Harper Lee, " and "I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee" (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers). He grew up in the Midwest and taught in a rural school in central Illinois for several years. He has been a reporter for public radio, a journalist, and the author of nonfiction books for young people. He and his wife live near Charlottesville, Virginia.