Stanley Elkin was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Chicago. After earning his PhD at the University of Illinois, he joined the English faculty at Washington University in St. Louis, where he remained until his death. During his career, Elkin published fifteen books, many of which darkly satirize American pop culture. He received numerous accolades for his work, including two National Book Critics Circle Awards and nominations for the PEN Faulkner Award and the National Book Award.
