Kristen Radtke
Kristen Radtke is a critically acclaimed author whose work has been widely praised for its unique style of literary nonfiction. From the heart-rending beauty of her best-selling novel Imagine Wanting Only This to the deeply emotional narratives that can be found in her award-winning graphic memoirs, Radtke's writing is passionate, engaging, and utterly beautiful.
Raised in Wisconsin, Kristen Radtke has always been a wanderer. Her college years took her to Oregon, Arizona, and California, and her fascination with cities and the stories that can be found in them eventually led her to graduate studies at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Initial forays into journalism and book criticism gradually led Radtke out of the city and around the world – she has written about cities from Tokyo to Beirut, from Dayton, Ohio to Istanbul.
Radtke's work has been consistently acclaimed by critics, especially for her willingness to venture “into complex, unfamiliar, and often uncomfortable environments.” It can easily be said that Radtke takes her readers on extraordinary journeys of exploration, and her ability to create vivid, evocative stories has earned her a place in the pantheon of unique, contemporary writers.
Her debut novel, Imagine Wanting Only This (2017), is a vivid, emotionally stunning exploration of the devastation caused by natural disasters. Radtke's narrative weaves together stories of global crises – from nuclear meltdowns to volcanic eruptions – and their lasting effects on the people and landscapes involved. The novel has earned numerous accolades and has been translated into several languages.
Radtke's prose has also been consistently praised for its gripping, deeply moving quality. Her most recent novel, The Rise & Fall of the Miraculous (2020), examines the life of a young man thrown into an alternate version of history, navigating between two eras as he struggles to find his place in a new world. Described as “lyrical, philosophical, and profoundly moving”, Radtke's story has captivated readers everywhere.
In addition to her work as a novelist, Radtke has also created several graphic memoirs. These include The Graphic Canon (2012), a series of visual essays drawn from the world's greatest literature; Real Worlds (2017), an exploration of the fascinating histories behind contemporary science fiction; and Lost Cat (2017), an intimate account of a woman's struggle to care for her cat after it disappears.
Finally, Radtke's awards and honors also speak to her impressive talent as a writer. She has been the recipient of the Whiting Award, a Design Observer Film & Video Prize, and was shortlisted for the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize for Debut Fiction.
A master of crafting stories that employ her signature mix of emotion and insight, Kristen Radtke has quickly established herself as one of the most important authors of the 21st century. From novelists to graphic memoirists to essayists, her writing is sure to keep captivating readers for years to come.
