Skip to content
Book cover of My Father, the Pornographer: A Memoir

My Father, the Pornographer: A Memoir

2016272 pagesAtria Books

Synopsis

"After inheriting 400 novels of pornography written by his father in the 1970s and '80s, critically acclaimed author Chris Offutt sets out to make sense of a complicated father-son relationship in this carefully observed, beautifully written memoir,"--NoveList. Andrew Offutt's writing career began as a strategy to pay for his son's orthodontic needs and peaked during the 1970s when the commercial popularity of the erotic novel reached its height. After his death, his son inherited 400 novels of pornography written by his father. As Chris began to examine his father's manuscripts and memorabilia, he realized he finally had an opportunity to gain insight into the difficult, mercurial, sometimes cruel man he'd loved and feared in equal measure, and set out to make sense of a complicated father-son relationship.

Vibe

About the author

Chris Offutt is the author featured in McSweeney's Mammoth Treasury of Thrilling Tales. He's known for his gripping stories that keep you turning the pages.

Genres

Characters

Chris OffuttProtagonist

The critically acclaimed author who inherits his father's pornographic novels and embarks on a journey to understand their complicated relationship.

Andrew OffuttSupporting

Chris Offutt's father, a prolific pornographer whose writing career began to pay for his son's orthodontic needs and peaked in the 1970s.

Subjects

Edition

Book cover of My Father, the Pornographer: A Memoir

Frequently asked questions

  • How does this memoir connect to Chris Offutt's other writing?

    Chris Offutt is primarily known for his fiction, particularly his crime novels featuring the character of Detective Tony Arata. This memoir offers a rare non-fiction look into his personal life and the influences that shaped his unique voice, providing context for the darker, more introspective elements often found in his fictional works.