Paul Bowles

Full biography Paul Bowles

Paul Bowles was an American composer, author, and translator, born on December 30, 1910, in New York. Bowles started his career as a composer and became a prominent figure in the American music scene during the 1930s and 1940s. He studied music with Aaron Copland and soon became known for his avant-garde compositions, which were influenced by his travels to Europe and North Africa.

However, Bowles is perhaps best known for his work as a writer. In 1947, he moved to Tangier, Morocco, where he wrote his first novel, "The Sheltering Sky." The novel is a haunting exploration of the human psyche in extreme environments, and it established Bowles as a major literary figure. The novel was later adapted into a film by director Bernardo Bertolucci.

Bowles continued to explore themes of alienation and existential despair in his subsequent novels, including "Let It Come Down" and "The Spider's House." His work often featured characters who were outsiders, struggling to come to terms with their place in the world.

In addition to his writing, Bowles was also a gifted translator, and he translated the works of several Moroccan writers into English. He was also a talented photographer, and many of his images of North Africa are considered iconic.

Throughout his life, Bowles remained a notoriously private person, rarely giving interviews or appearing in public. He died on November 18, 1999, at the age of 88, in Tangier, where he had lived for over 50 years.

Overall, Paul Bowles was a multifaceted artist whose work continues to resonate with readers and audiences today. As both a composer and writer, he was deeply influenced by his travels and by the people he met along the way, and his unique perspective on the world has ensured that his legacy endures.