Bowles, Jane (1917–1973)

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Bowles, Jane (1917–1973)

American novelist and short-story writer. Born Jane Auer, Feb 22, 1917, in New York, NY; grew up in Woodmere, LI, NY; died May 4, 1973, in Malaga, Spain; dau. of Sidney Auer (died 1930) and Claire (Stajer) Auer; m. Paul Bowles (writer), 1938 (though both were homosexual and lived separate sexual lives, remained married).

A writer's writer with a strong following, developed tuberculosis of the knee in adolescence and spent months in traction in a sanatorium in Leysin, Switzerland; traveled widely with husband Paul Bowles; enjoyed friendships with several important literary figures, including Tennessee Williams and William Burroughs; published Two Serious Ladies (1943); published several short stories, including the highly regarded "Camp Cataract"; wrote the play In the Summer House (1954), which was performed on Broadway to mixed reviews but also had a revival; suffered a serious stroke which affected her sight (1957); published Plain Pleasures (1966); lived in Tangier.

See also Millicent Dillon, A Little Original Sin: The Life and Works of Jane Bowles (Holt, 1981).

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