Tim O’Brien

Tim O’Brien (October 1, 1946-) moved from Austin, Minnesota to Worthington, Minnesota when he was ten years old. Worthington later inspired the settings for several pieces of O’Brien’s writings. After earning his B.A. from Macalester College in 1968, O’Brien was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. He based several novels in his experiences overseas and earned the Purple Heart. Upon returning to the United States, O’Brien pursued graduate studies at Harvard University and interned at the Washington Post, where he later held a position as a national affairs reporter.

O’Brien has won several awards for his writing, including the O. Henry Award and the National Book Award for Fiction. His war memoir, If I Die in a Combat Zone, Box Me Up and Ship Me Home, was named Outstanding Book of 1973 by the New York Times. One of his most well-known books is The Things They Carried. His prose is notable because of its meta aspects and interplay between fiction and reality.

More information on Tim O’Brien from the Minnesota Historical Society.