Staggerford
Jon Hassler | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Died | March 20, 2008 (aged 74) St. Louis Park, Minnesota, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Author, educator |
| Known for | Novels depicting small-town Minnesota life; writer-in-residence at St. John's University |
Jon Hassler (March 30, 1933 – March 20, 2008) was a distinguished American author and educator, celebrated for his novels depicting small-town Minnesota life. He held the title of Regents professor emeritus and served as writer-in-residence at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota.
Biography
Hassler was born in Minneapolis on March 30, 1933, and spent his formative years in the Minnesota communities of Staples and Plainview, where he completed his high school education. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from St. John's University in 1955. While teaching English at high schools across Minnesota, he earned a Master of Arts in English from the University of North Dakota in 1960. His academic career advanced to higher education in 1965, with faculty appointments at Bemidji State University, Brainerd Community College, and eventually St. John's University, where he was appointed writer-in-residence in 1980.
Throughout his early professional life, Hassler married and fathered three children; his initial marriage endured for 25 years. Subsequently, he married two more times, with his final spouse being Gretchen Kresl Hassler.
In 1994, Hassler was diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a neurological disorder impacting vision, speech, and movement. Despite this challenge, he continued his literary work and is said to have finished a novel shortly before passing away. He died at age 74 in 2008 at Methodist Hospital located in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. The Jon Hassler Theater in Plainview stands as a tribute to his contributions. His memoir Days Like Smoke was released posthumously in 2021.
Works
Hassler’s literary output frequently explores individuals undergoing significant life changes or searching for meaning, often featuring protagonists who are Catholic or formerly practicing Catholics. His novels commonly investigate the influence of small-town environments on personal growth and potential.
Several characters recur across his works: Miles Pruitt appears as the lead in Staggerford and is mentioned in other novels; Agatha McGee features in multiple titles including Staggerford and The New Woman; Larry Quinn is central to The Love Hunter and Rookery Blues; Frank Healy figures prominently in North of Hope and The New Woman.
Novels
- Staggerford (1977)
- Simon's Night (1979)
- The Love Hunter (1981)
- A Green Journey (1985)
- Grand Opening (1987)
- North of Hope (1990)
- Dear James (1993)
- Rookery Blues (1995)
- The Dean's List (1998)
- The Staggerford Flood (2002)
- The Staggerford Murders (2004)
- The New Woman (2005)
Short story collections
- Keepsakes and Other Stories (2000)
- Rufus at the Door and Other Stories (2000)
Nonfiction
- Introduction to Saint John's in Pictures (1994)
- My Staggerford Journal (1999)
- Good People... from an Author's Life (2001)
- Stories Teachers Tell (2004)
- Days Like Smoke (2021)
Children's literature
- Four Miles to Pinecone (1977)
- Jemmy (1980)
Anthologized stories
His work appears in anthologies such as Inheriting the Land, featuring "The Undistinguished Poet" (1993), and Imagining Home, which includes "Remembering Houses" (1995).
Adaptations
In 1990, the television film The Love She Sought was produced based on Hassler's novel A Green Journey, featuring performances by Angela Lansbury and Denholm Elliott.
External links
- Official website of Jon Hassler
- Jon Hassler's writing space
- Jon Hassler Theater, a nonprofit organization connected to Rural America Arts Partnership, situated in Plainview, Minnesota (ceased operations in 2014)
- Compilation of Jon Hassler’s books
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