Robert Bingham (writer)

Robert Bingham (1966 - November 28, 1999) was an American writer and a founding editor of the Open City Magazine.[1]

Bingham graduated from Brown University in 1988.[2] He then received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Columbia University. His fiction and non-fiction appeared in The New Yorker, and he worked for two years as a reporter for the Cambodia Daily. He wrote the short story collection Pure Slaughter Value and the novel Lightning on the Sun. Robert Bingham died of a heroin overdose at age 33 on November 28, 1999, six months after getting married and five months before the publication of his novel.[3] In Robert Bingham's honor, the PEN American Center has established the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize, which awards $25,000 to the most exceptionally talented fiction writer whose debut work represents distinguished literary achievement.[4]

Bingham was a close friend of musician Stephen Malkmus; the title of "Church on White," a song from Malkmus's debut album, Stephen Malkmus, refers to Bingham's old New York City address.

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ OPEN CITY Accessed September 21, 2006.
  2. ↑ BAM: Obituaries, The Classes, March/April 2000 Accessed September 21, 2006.
  3. ↑ Stacey D'Erasmo. Wasted - New York Times Published April 23, 2000. Accessed September 21, 2006.
  4. ↑ PEN American Center - PEN/Robert Bingham Fellowship for Writers Updated 2004. Accessed September 21, 2006.