John Updike, born in 1932 in Reading, Pennsylvania, was an acclaimed American novelist, short story writer, poet, and critic whose prolific literary career spanned over five decades. Known for his keen observations of middle-class America and his exquisite prose style, Updike's works often delved into the complexities of suburban life, relationships, and the human condition. He gained widespread recognition for his Rabbit series, starting with "Rabbit, Run" (1960), which followed the life of Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom through four novels and earned Updike two Pulitzer Prizes for Fiction. Beyond the Rabbit series, Updike published numerous novels, short stories, essays, and poems that explored themes of identity, religion, and the passage of time with a meticulous attention to detail and a deep psychological insight. His literary achievements established him as one of the preeminent American writers of his generation, celebrated for his lyrical prose, intellectual curiosity, and ability to capture the nuances of contemporary American life.
Its hero is Harry “Rabbit” Angstrom, a onetime high-school basketball star who on an impulse deserts his wife and son. He is twenty-six years old, a man-child caught in a struggle between instinct and thought, self and society, sexual gratification a...