Jonathan Franzen

Jonathan Franzen

Jonathan Franzen (Jonathan Earl Franzen) was born on August 17th, 1959 and is currently 66 years old. Jonathan Franzen was born in Western Springs, Illinois, USA.

Jonathan Franzen is known for writing in the Literary Fiction genre.

Jonathan Franzen has written 5 standalone novels, starting with The Twenty-Seventh City in 1988. The most recently released novel was Purity, which was released in 2015. There are no upcoming standalone novels by Jonathan at this time.

Jonathan Franzen has also written 5 Non-Fiction Books, including How to Be Alone and The Discomfort Zone.

Jonathan Franzen: Awards & Accolades

Jonathan Franzen won the Whiting Foundation Awards, Whiting Award for Fiction, in 1988.

Franzen's books have also won multiple awards, The Corrections won the National Book Awards, Best Fiction, in 2001. Freedom won the British Book Awards, International Author of the Year, in 2010.

Jonathan Franzen books have also been nominated for multiple awards, The Corrections was nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Best Fiction, in 2001. Freedom was nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Best Fiction, in 2010. Purity was nominated for the Goodreads Awards, Best Fiction, in 2015. Crossroads was nominated for the Goodreads Awards, Best Historical Fiction, in 2021.

Jonathan Franzen: Lists & Other Mentions

• The Corrections was the Oprah's Book Club September 2001 Pick.
• Freedom was the Oprah's Book Club September 2010 Pick.
• The Corrections has made several lists including:
  1. New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2001.
  2. The Sunday Times: 100 21st-Century Novels to Love Selection in 2019.
  3. The Guardian: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Section in 2019.
  4. New York Times: 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Selection in 2024.
  5. Amazon US: 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime Selection in 2014.
  6. Time Magazine: All-Time 100 Novels Selection in 2005.
  7. People Magazine: Best Books From the 2000s Selection in 2024.
  8. Marie Claire Magazine: Best Books To Read Before You Die Selection in 2017.
  9. Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 2001.
  10. Book Riot: From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books Selection in 2013.
  11. Los Angeles Times: The 30 Best Fiction Books of the Last 30 Years Selection in 2025.
  12. The Onion AV Club: The Best Books of the 2000s Selection in 2009.
  13. The Millions: The Best Fiction of the Millennium Selection in 2009.
  14. Entertainment Weekly: The New Classics - 100 Best Reads from 1983 to 2008 Selection in 2008.
  15. Entertainment Weekly: Top 100 Novels Selection in 2013.
• Freedom has made several lists including:
  1. New York Times: #1 Fiction Best Seller in 2010.
  2. Wall Street Journal: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2010.
  3. Barnes & Noble: #1 Hardcover Fiction Best Seller in 2010.
  4. Publishers Weekly: Bestselling Novel in the United States in 2010.
  5. BBC: Radio Oxford 100 Books You Must Read Before You Die Selection in 2020.
  6. President Obama: Summer Reading List Selection in 2010.
• Crossroads was a Time Magazine: 100 Must-Read Books Selection in 2021 and a New York Times: 100 Notable Books Selection in 2021.

The Corrections was listed at #19 on the Los Angeles Times "Best Fiction Books of the Last 30 Years" list, which was published in April 2025.

Related Authors

Fans of Jonathan Franzen also enjoy these authors:

1. Richard Powers, author of: The Overstory.
2. Elif Shafak, author of: The Island of Missing Trees.
3. Annie Proulx, author of: The Shipping News.
4. Celeste Ng, author of: Little Fires Everywhere.
5. Elizabeth Strout, author of the Olive Kitteridge Series.
6. Anne Tyler, author of: The Accidental Tourist.
7. J.D. Salinger, author of: The Catcher in the Rye.
8. Percival Everett, author of: James.
9. Alice Sebold, author of: The Lovely Bones.
10. Elizabeth Gilbert, author of: Eat, Pray, Love.

Jonathan Franzen: F.A.Q