KURT VONNEGUT, JR. has distinguished himself as one of America's most accomplished novelists. He was born in Indianapolis and went on to study chemistry at Cornell University, where he was also the editor of The Cornell Daily Sun. Vonnegut left Cornell and, soon afterward, joined the army where he served as a scout in the infantry during World War II. He was captured by the Nazis and was in prison in Dresden during the firebombing of the city.
After the war, Vonnegut entered the University of Chicago as a graduate student in anthropology. He continued his journalism career, working part time as a reporter for the Chicago City News Bureau, while also studying at the University of Chicago. Vonnegut left Chicago after his Master's thesis was rejected. Twenty years later, he received a letter form a new dean at the University of Chicago. Under the rules of the university, a published work of high quality could be substituted for a dissertation. The dean had shown Cat's Cradle to the anthropology department, and they accepted his work earning Vonnegut his long-awaited M.A.
After leaving the University of Chicago, Vonnegut took a Public Relations job for General Electric in Schenectady. After three years, Vonnegut left G.E. and moved to Cape Cod to devote full time to his writing career.
Since then, Vonnegut interspersed his writings with activities ranging from teaching creative writing to serving as the Cape Cod Saab dealer (he was the second one in the United States). He also has been a guest lecturer at the University of Iowa writers workshop and at Harvard University, and has been a Distinguished Professor at the City College of New York. He is a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters and the recipient of their Literary Award.
