Renowned author Paul Auster, known for his best-selling novels such as The New York Trilogy and The Music of Chance, passed away at the age of 77 on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
Auster, who was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Jewish Polish immigrants, gained a cult following in the 1980s and 90s for his existentialist stories about outsiders. He leaves behind a legacy of over 30 books, with his final work, Baumgartner, published in 2023.
Auster’s wife, Siri Hustvedt, a celebrated American novelist and essayist, stood by his side for 42 years before his death.
The couple, who married in 1982, lived in Brooklyn, New York, where they raised their daughter, Sophie Auster, a talented singer-songwriter and actress.
Apart from Sophie, Auster also had a son, Daniel Auster, from his first marriage to writer Lydia Davis. Tragically, Daniel passed away from an overdose in 2022, just 10 months after the death of his 10-month-old daughter, Ruby, due to heroin ingestion.
In a recent interview, Hustvedt shared her daily routine, which includes starting her day with meditation at 5:30 am and dedicating hours to writing novels, philosophical books, and essays. She emphasized her sense of urgency in completing her work, stating that she is “working like a maniac to get it in before I die.”
The death of Auster, due to complications from lung cancer, marks a significant loss in the literary world. His influence, along with Hustvedt’s, will continue to be felt in the hearts of readers and writers alike.
