Frederick Exley

Frederick Exley is a critically acclaimed author who wrote several novels over the course of half a century. He was born in 1929 in Watertown, New York and attended Syracuse University where he was educated in English and French Literature. He was a passionate scholar of literature and art and was heavily influenced by the post-WWII existentialist writers of his day, such as Sartre, Camus and Herbert Marcuse.

Exley's first book, A Fan's Notes, was written in 1968 and was originally inspired by his love of football, in particular the New York Giants. It is semi-autobiographical, drawing on his own difficult life and psychological issues, such as alcoholism and depression. it shows the struggles of being an American in the Vietnam War era, where many felt disheartened, alienated and lost. The book was groundbreaking for its time and is now considered a classic of American literature.

Exley wrote four more books during his lifetime, each demonstrating his knack for frank, honest writing that often drew from his own life experiences. His second book, Pages from a Cold Island, is a semi-autobiographical novel about his time in exile from his hometown. Exley wrote of his struggles with alcohol, and his search for family, meaning and acceptance. His third novel, Last Notes From Home, is about a man who is slowly drifting away from his familial obligations and commitments and his increasing loneliness. His fourth novel, Pallid Light in 2 Territories, is a retelling of the quest for man's ultimate search for escape, freedom and victory over fate.

Exley’s later years saw a decline in his health due to his struggles with alcoholism and depression. He was only able to finish his final book, A Chaos of Stars, with difficulty, yet it nevertheless won him a Pulitzer nomination and many praises alongside his earlier works.

Exley died in 1992, yet his works remain timelessly relevant as they offer a unique glimpse into a man attempting to find his place in a world that often seemed to neglect him. His life may have had its struggles, yet he managed to leave behind a library of stories that continue to captivate and inspire readers.