Profile Essay - Author Dan Chaon

I have the pleasure of introducing you to Mr. Dan Chaon, a highly regarded individual who is a living representation of America and who is a member of the modern literature. Mr. Chaon, an American author, is highly regarded for his excellent work on a global scale. His three novels and three collections of short stories have had a significant influence on their fans. (Dirda). One of his books, Among the Missing, which was first released in 2001, was a candidate for the National Book Award that year. (National Book Award Authors). Stay Awake (2012), a short story collection book, was honored as a finalist for the Story Prize. Along with Among the Missing (2001) and Await Your Reply (2009) include the national bestseller (Charles).

The novel, Among the Missing, is the direct reflection of the American men, women, boys, and girls along with the sociocultural nuances through which they live their lives. The characters are presented as purely American people living within a highly emotional aura: “How did people go about falling in love, getting married, having families, living their lives?” Even those who think they know the answers Some people recognize their powerlessness even though think that they know everything, for example, a father who, keenly looking into his son’s eyes, thinks, “I am aware that hatred is a definite possibility at the end of the long tunnel of parenthood, and I suspect that there is little one can do about it.” Such is the power, impact, and magic of the words through which the author paints the American reality (Mosle).

Chaon’s in-depth understanding about the American society enables him to weave the stories with a deep impact. Chaon’s writings have appeared in Best American Short Stories, The O. Henry Prize Stories, and The Pushcart Prize Anthologies. His determination and dedication towards his work bestow him all the success. He is getting prodigious recognition for his work that reflects the rich perception of the American society. Chaon has been a finalist for the National Magazine Award for Fiction, the Shirley Jackson Award, and he was the recipient of an Academy Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Chaon lives in Ohio. He teaches Creative Writing at Oberlin College, where he is the Pauline Delaney Professor of Creative Writing and Literature.

Works cited

Charles, Ron (August 26, 2009). “Dan Chaon’s ’Await Your Reply’”. Washington Post. Retrieved: September 10, 2017

Dirda, Michael Emerson. “Want to write? Celebrated author Dan Chaon suggests reading”. Oberlin Alumni. Oberlin Alumni Magazine. September 10, 2017

Mosle, Sarah (July 10, 2004). “There’s No Place That’s Home”. New York Times. September 11, 2017

“National Book Award Authors”. nationalbook.org. National Book Foundation. September 10, 2017