Brendan Mathews

Brendan Mathews is an American novelist and short story writer known for his richly detailed historical fiction and evocative literary prose. His debut novel, The World of Tomorrow, garnered significant critical acclaim, winning the Massachusetts Book Award and establishing him as a distinctive voice in contemporary American literature. He has also received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, and he teaches creative writing at Bard College.

Early life and education

Brendan Mathews was born in 1970 in Worcester, Massachusetts, a city with a strong Irish-American cultural heritage that would later influence his writing. He pursued his undergraduate studies at the College of the Holy Cross, a Jesuit institution in Worcester, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Following this, he attended the University of Virginia, where he received a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing, honing his craft within a prestigious academic tradition. His formative years in New England and his academic training provided a foundational backdrop for his future literary explorations of identity, family, and history.

Career

After completing his MFA, Mathews embarked on a multifaceted career that blended writing with academia. He has held teaching positions at several notable institutions, including Washington and Lee University and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His professional journey also included work as an editor and a journalist, contributing to publications such as The Washington Post and The Boston Globe. He currently serves as a professor in the Division of Languages and Literature at Bard College, where he mentors emerging writers. His editorial insights were further applied during his tenure as a senior editor at Boston College's literary magazine, Post Road.

Literary works

Mathews's literary output is characterized by ambitious narrative scope and deep historical research. His debut short story collection, This Is Not a Love Song, was published in 2007 and includes stories set in locales ranging from Cape Cod to Eastern Europe, showcasing his early talent for character and place. His major work, the novel The World of Tomorrow (2017), is an epic family saga set in New York City during the 1939 New York World's Fair. The plot follows three Irish Republican Army brothers on the run, weaving together threads of jazz music, art forgery, and political intrigue against the backdrop of pre-World War II America. His short fiction has also appeared in prestigious journals like The Best American Short Stories anthology, Glimmer Train, and The Missouri Review.

Awards and recognition

Throughout his career, Brendan Mathews has received significant accolades for his writing. He was awarded a fellowship in literature from the National Endowment for the Arts, a highly competitive grant supporting artistic excellence. His novel The World of Tomorrow was the winner of the Massachusetts Book Award in fiction and was also named a "Must-Read" book by the Massachusetts Center for the Book. He has been a fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University and has also received a fellowship to the Sewanee Writers' Conference. His work has been further recognized with a Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville award and a William R. L. Adams writing prize from the University of Virginia.

Personal life

Brendan Mathews maintains a relatively private personal life, with his public focus remaining on his literary and academic endeavors. He is married and has children, and the family has lived in various locations tied to his academic appointments, including New York's Hudson Valley while teaching at Bard College. He is known to be an avid reader and a student of history, interests that directly fuel the detailed worlds he creates in his fiction. His roots in Massachusetts and his Irish ancestry continue to be touchstones in both his personal identity and his creative work.

Category:American novelists Category:American short story writers Category:1970 births Category:Writers from Massachusetts Category:College of the Holy Cross alumni Category:University of Virginia alumni Category:Bard College faculty Category:Living people