William Saroyan’s Life and Works

William Saroyan, one of the most famous Americans from the 1930s through 50s, wrote some of the most beloved works of fiction and drama in American history. Son of Armenian immigrants, his work emphasized the outsider, and won praise and awards ranging from the Pulitzer to the Oscar. His books and plays represent a gallery of American life and the immigrant experience often ignored today. The joy and hopefulness of his writing led to the coining of a word that entered into the American lexicon: Saroyanesque.

This talk will look at Saroyan’s life and works, the lasting impact of his writing we can still see today even if we don’t quite recognize it, and his deep connections to California, the Bay Area, and San Lorenzo Valley.

Presenter Chris Garcia is a writer, archivist, curator, podcaster, documentarian, and artist from Boulder Creek. He is a two-time Hugo Award winner and has had writing appear in magazines around the world. He is currently an Archivist for Forever Saroyan, a literary foundation headquartered in San Jose.