John McPhee

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For the former Tasmanian premier, see John McPhee (Australian politician).
For the former professional footballer, see John McPhee (footballer).
Not to be confused with John McFee.
John McPhee
John McPhee

John Angus McPhee (born March 8, 1931) is a writer widely considered one of the pioneers of creative nonfiction. Like Tom Wolfe and Hunter Thompson, he helped kick-start the "new journalism" which, in the 1960s, revolutionized nonfiction by incorporating techniques from novels and other forms of fiction. McPhee avoided the attention-grabbing streams of consciousness of Wolfe and Thompson, but his detailed description of characters, insatiable appetite for details, and masterful style make his writing lively, readable, and personal, even when it focuses on obscure or difficult topics.

Contents

[edit] Background

McPhee was born in Princeton, New Jersey, the son of the Princeton University team physician, Dr. Harry McPhee. John McPhee was educated at Princeton High School, then spent a postgraduate year at Deerfield Academy, before attending Princeton University and Cambridge University.

While at Princeton, McPhee went to New York once or twice a week to appear as the juvenile panelist on the radio and television quiz program Twenty Questions.[citation needed]

Twice married, McPhee is the father of four daughters, among them the novelists Jenny and Martha McPhee.[1]

[edit] Writing career

His writing career began at Time magazine and led to a long association with The New Yorker beginning in 1965 and continuing to the present. Many of his twenty-nine books include material originally written for that magazine.

He has received many literary honors, including the Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1999, awarded for Annals of the Former World. In 1978 McPhee received a Litt.D. from Bates College.

McPhee's subjects, reflecting his personal interests, are highly eclectic. He has written pieces on lifting body development (The Deltoid Pumpkin Seed), the United States Merchant Marine (Looking for a Ship), farmers' markets (Giving Good Weight), the shifting flow of the Mississippi River (The Control of Nature), geology (in several books), as well as a short book entirely on the subject of oranges. One of his most widely read books is about the Alaskan wilderness (Coming into the Country). His newest book, Uncommon Carriers, published 16 May 2006, is about freight transportation.

McPhee has profiled a number of famous people, including conservationist David Brower and the young Bill Bradley, whom McPhee followed closely during Bradley's four-year basketball career at Princeton University. The resulting book, A Sense of Where You Are, is a classic of non-fiction writing -- a literary craftsman's admiring profile of a basketball craftsman. But some of McPhee's most memorable work describes people who work out of the limelight: a builder of birch bark canoes (Henri Vaillancourt), a bush pilot, and a French-speaking wine maker in the Swiss army.

[edit] Teaching

McPhee is also a renowned nonfiction writing instructor at Princeton University, having taught generations of aspiring undergraduate writers, many of whom have achieved distinction in literature and journalism. Among his former students are David Remnick, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and current editor of The New Yorker; Richard Stengel and Jim Kelly, the current and former managing editors of Time Magazine; journalist Robert Wright, former senior editor at The New Republic and columnist for Time, Slate and the New York Times, and author of award-winning books; and Peter Hessler, The New Yorker's China correspondent. McPhee still teaches his writing seminar two years out of every three, and is teaching during the current semester, spring 2008.

[edit] Awards

[edit] Books by John McPhee

John McPhee is widely recognized for his writing on geology. Four previous volumes, published together with new material as Annals of the Former World, were honored with the 1999 Pulitzer Prize.
John McPhee is widely recognized for his writing on geology. Four previous volumes, published together with new material as Annals of the Former World, were honored with the 1999 Pulitzer Prize.
A Sense of Where You Are (1965), John McPhee's first book, was a profile of Princeton senior (and future pro basketball star) Bill Bradley.
A Sense of Where You Are (1965), John McPhee's first book, was a profile of Princeton senior (and future pro basketball star) Bill Bradley.
Oranges, published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 1967, was John McPhee's third book.
Oranges, published by Farrar, Straus & Giroux in 1967, was John McPhee's third book.
The Ransom of Russian Art (1994) tells the story of Norton Dodge, an American collector of Soviet dissident art. John McPhee's twenty-fourth book.
The Ransom of Russian Art (1994) tells the story of Norton Dodge, an American collector of Soviet dissident art. John McPhee's twenty-fourth book.

[edit] Articles by John McPhee

  • Rip Van Golfer -- Notes from Oakmont. The New Yorker (6 August 2007), 26-34.
  • Season on the Chalk. The New Yorker (12 March 2007), 58-71.
  • Land of the Diesel Bear. The New Yorker (28 November 2005), 116ff.
  • Coal Train -- II. The New Yorker (10 October 2005), 62ff.
  • Coal Train -- I. The New Yorker (3 October 2005), 72ff.
  • Out in the Sort. The New Yorker (18 April 2005), 161ff.
  • Tight-Assed River. The New Yorker (15 November 2004), 80ff.
  • 1839/2003. The New Yorker (15 December 2003), 71ff.
  • Whiff. The New Yorker (10 November 2003), 50.
  • The Tee Room. The New Yorker 79:6 (31 March 2003), 49-52, 54-8.
  • A Fleet of One. The New Yorker 79:1 (14-21 February 2003), 48-63.
  • Sapidissima. The New Yorker 78:24 (19 August 2002), 80 ff.
  • Absent Without Leave. The New Yorker 78:15 (10 June 2002), 40-47.
  • A Selective Advantage. The New Yorker 76 (11 September 2000) 70-82.
  • They're in the River. The New Yorker 76:7 (10 April 2000), 72 ff.
  • The Control of Nature: Farewell to the Nineteenth Century -- The Breaching of Edwards Dam. The New Yorker 75:28 (27 September 1999), 44-53.
  • Catch-and-Dissect. The New Yorker 74:32 (19 October 1998), 58ff.
  • The Ships of Port Revel. Atlantic Monthly, 282: 4 (October 1998) 67ff.
  • Swimming with Canoes. The New Yorker, 74:23 (10 August 1998) 33ff.
  • Warming the Jump Seat. Deerfield Magazine 54:3 (Summer 1997), 20.
  • Silk Parachute. The New Yorker, 73:11 (12 May 1997), 108 ff.
  • The Gravel Page. The New Yorker 71:46 (29 January 1996), 44ff.
  • Other Snows. The New Yorker 71:45 (22 January 1996), 90ff.
  • New Yorker Index 1992: Opening the Stacks. The New Yorker 69 (22 February 1993), 83ff.
  • The Ransom of Russian Art. The New Yorker, 70:33 (17 October 1994), 78ff.
  • Irons in the Fire. The New Yorker 69:43 (20 December 1993), 94ff.
  • Don't Scare Them off. Discover 14:11 (November 1993), 95ff.
  • Duty of Care. The New Yorker 69:19 (28 June 1993) 72ff.
  • Water War. The New Yorker 69:10 (26 April 1993), 120ff.
  • Arthur Ashe Remembered. The New Yorker 69:2 (1 March 1993), 57ff.
  • Remembering Mr. Shawn.The New Yorker (December 28 1992), 137.
  • Annals of the Former World: Assembling California -- III. The New Yorker 68:31 (21 September 1992), 39ff.
  • Annals of the Former World: Assembling California -- II. The New Yorker 68:30 (14 September 1992), 44ff.
  • Annals of the Former World: Assembling California -- I. The New Yorker 68:29 (7 September 1992), 36ff.
  • Outcroppings. National Parks 65 (September / October 1991), 54-5.
  • Looking for a Ship, Part I. The New Yorker 66 (26 March 1990) 40-4.
  • Looking for a Ship, Part II. The New Yorker 66 (2 April 1990) 46-8.
  • Looking for a Ship, Part III. The New Yorker 66 (9 April 1990) 40-4.
  • Travels of the Rock. The New Yorker 66 (26 February 1990) 108-17.
  • Rinard at Manheim. The New Yorker 65 (4 December 1989), 150-2.
  • Los Angeles Against the Mountains -- I. The New Yorker 64 (26 September 1988), 45-8.
  • Los Angeles Against the Mountains -- II. The New Yorker 64 (3 October 1988), 72-90.
  • The Control of Nature: Cooling the Lava -- I. The New Yorker 64 (22 February 1988), 43ff.
  • The Control of Nature: Cooling the Lava -- II The New Yorker 64 (29 February 1988), 64ff.
  • Release. The New Yorker Reprinted in Irons in the Fire (New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 1997), 57-67.
  • In Virgin Forest. The New Yorker (6 July 1987), 21-23.
  • Atchafalaya. The New Yorker 63 (23 February 1987), 39-44.
  • Rising From the Plains -- I. The New Yorker 62 (24 February 1986), 38-42.
  • Rising From the Plains -- II. The New Yorker 62 (3 March 1986) 41-2.
  • Rising From the Plains -- III. The New Yorker 62 (10 March 1986), 70-82.
  • Heirs of General Practice. The New Yorker (23 July 1984), 40-85.
  • Our Far-Flung Correspondents: Open Man. The New Yorker 59 (10 October 1983), 108 ff.
  • Riding the Boom Extension. The New Yorker (4 August 1980) 36-48.
  • Annals of the Former World -- I. The New Yorker (20 October 1980), 58-136.
  • Annals of the Former World -- II. The New Yorker (27 October 1980), 57-155.
  • The Upper 1. Vogue (April 1979), 248, 315.
  • The Encircled River. Living Wilderness 41 (October 1977), 24-41.
  • Brigade de Cuisine. The New Yorker (19 February 1979), 43 ff.
  • A Reporter at Large: Giving Good Weight. The New Yorker 54 (3 July 1978), 36-8+.
  • The Encircled River. Living Wilderness 41 (July 1977), 44-60.
  • Pine Barrens. Horticulture (January 1977), 57-63.
  • A Reporter at Large: The Encircled River -- I. The New Yorker 53 (2 May 1977)
  • A Reporter at Large: The Encircled River -- II. The New Yorker 53 (9 May 1977)
  • A Reporter at Large: Coming into the Country -- I. The New Yorker 53 (20 June 1977)
  • A Reporter at Large: Coming into the Country -- II. The New Yorker 53 (27 June 1977)
  • A Reporter at Large: Coming into the Country -- III. The New Yorker 53 (4 July 1977)
  • A Reporter at Large: Coming into the Country -- IV. The New Yorker 53 (11 July 1977)
  • Pine Barrens. Horticulture 55 (January 1977)
  • The Keel of Lake Dickey. Living Wilderness 40 (October-December 1976)
  • A Reporter at Large: The Keel of Lake Dickey. The New Yorker 52 (3 May 1976)
  • A Reporter at Large: What They Were Hunting For -- I. The New Yorker 52 (27 September 1976)
  • A Reporter at Large: What They Were Hunting For -- II. The New Yorker 52 (4 October 1976)
  • Our local correspondents: The Pinball Philosophy. The New Yorker 52 (30 June 1975)
  • The Keel of Lake Dickey. The New Yorker (3 May 1976), 43-73
  • The Forager. The New York Times (10 January 1976), 25.
  • A Reporter at Large: The Atlantic Generating Station. The New Yorker 51 (12 May 1975)
  • A Reporter at Large: Survival of the Bark Canoe -- I. The New Yorker 51 (24 February 1975)
  • A Reporter at Large: Survival of the Bark Canoe -- II. The New Yorker 51 (3 Mr 1975), 41-8ff. Ruidoso. The New Yorker (29 April 1974), 83-112.
  • Firewood. The New Yorker 50 (25 March 1974)
  • People of New Jersey's Pine Barrens. National Geographic 145 (January 1974), 52-77.
  • The Curve of Binding Energy -- I. The New Yorker (3 December 1973), 54-145.
  • The Curve of Binding Energy -- II. The New Yorker (10 December 1973), 50-108.
  • The Curve of Binding Energy -- III. The New Yorker (17 December 1973), 60-97.
  • Thrilling Sights: Love Games of Birds. Vogue 162 (July 1973) 67
  • Tennis. New York Times Book Review (10 June 1973), 1, 14, 16.
  • Profiles: Travels in Georgia. The New Yorker 49 (28 April 1973)
  • The Deltoid Pumpkin Seed -- I. The New Yorker (10 February 1973) 40-73.
  • The Deltoid Pumpkin Seed -- II. The New Yorker (17 February 1973), 42-77.
  • The Deltoid Pumpkin Seed -- III. The New Yorker (24 February 1973), 48.79.
  • A Reporter at Large: The Search for Marvin Gardens. The New Yorker 48 (9 September 1972)
  • Profiles: Ranger. The New Yorker 47 (11 September 1971)
  • Centre Court. Playboy (June 1971), 102-104, 246, 248, 250.
  • Profiles: Encounters With the Archdruid I: A Mountain. The New Yorker 47 (20 March 1971)
  • Profiles: Encounters With the Archdruid II: An Island. The New Yorker 47 (27 March 1971)
  • Profiles: Encounters With the Archdruid III: A River. The New Yorker 47 (3 April 1971)
  • Reading the River. The New Yorker (21 March 1970), 126-123.
  • Our Far-Flung Correspondents: From Birnam Wood to Dunsinane. The New Yorker 46 (10 October 1970)
  • Good Scotch Needs Gloom, Fog, Rain, but What About Josie's Well? Holiday (January 1970), 66, 70-73
  • The Island of the Crofter and the Laird -- I. The New Yorker (6 December 1969), 69-165.
  • The Island of the Crofter and the Laird -- II. The New Yorker (13 December 1969), 61-112.
  • Pieces of the Frame. Atlantic Monthly 225 (January 1970), 42-47.
  • Levels of the Game -- I. The New Yorker (7 June 1969) 45-111.
  • Levels of the Game -- II. The New Yorker (14 June 1969) 44-81.
  • Profiles: A Forager. The New Yorker 44 (6 April 1968)
  • Profiles: The Lawns of Wimbledon. The New Yorker 44 (22 June 1968), 32-57.
  • Ruth, the Sun is Shining. Playboy (April 1968), 114-116, 126, 186.
  • Templex. The New Yorker (6 January 1968), 32-67.
  • Eucalyptus Trees. Reporter 37 (19 October 1967), 36-9.
  • Profiles: The Pine Barrens -- I. The New Yorker 43 (25 November 1967), 67-8ff.
  • Profiles: The Pine Barrens -- II. The New Yorker 43 (2 December 1967), 66-8ff.
  • A Reporter at Large: Fifty-two People on a Continent. The New Yorker 42 (5 March 1966)
  • A Reporter at Large: Oranges -- I. The New Yorker 42 (7 May 1966)
  • A Reporter at Large: Oranges -- II. The New Yorker 42 (14 May 1966)
  • The Headmaster. The New Yorker 42 (19 March 1966)
  • A Sense of Where You Are. The New Yorker 40 (23 January 1965)
  • Speaking Out: Burn Those Worthless Cookbooks. Saturday Evening Post 237 (3 October 1964)
  • Basketball and Beefeaters. The New Yorker (16 March 1963) 186-194.
  • The Fair of San Gennaro. Transatlantic Review (Winter 1961) 117-128.
  • It's Collegiate -- but is it Humor? New York Times Magazine (25 May 1952), 17, 58.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Birnbaum, Robert (December 25, 2002). Jenny & Martha McPhee. Identity Theory. Retrieved on 2008-03-16.

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