John Barth: Author of the Maryland Eastern Shore
(Source: Enoch Pratt Free Library)
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John Barth, one of America’s pre-eminent writers of modern fiction, has maintained ties to Maryland throughout his entire life. Barth was born in Cambridge, Dorchester County on May 27, 1930. He studied at the Johns Hopkins University, where he first became interested in writing and teaching. After receiving his M.A. in creative writing at Hopkins, Barth spent the next twenty years teaching before returning to Hopkins in 1973 as professor of English and creative writing. In 1990, he retired as Professor Emeritus. He continues to live on the Easten Shore, near Chestertown.
John Barth was nominated for the National Book Award for The Floating Opera and Lost in the Funhouse. In 1973, he won the award for Chimera. Barth sets almost all his works in the landscape of Maryland. The Floating Opera and The End of the Road both take place in twentieth-century Maryland. The Sot-Weed Factor is set in the 18th century and parodies the style of novels of that period.
General Information and Book Reviews
The Modern Word's Scriptorium - an essay on Barth detailing his life and major literary works with a focus on his experimental writing style.
John Barth Information Center - an essay on Barth detailing his life and major literary works with a focus on his experimental writing style.
Existential Primer on John Barth - a basic introduction containing background information on Barth, a chronology of his writing achievements, and brief discussion of his writing style and the major themes treated in his works.
(Source: Enoch Pratt Free Library)
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Interviews with John Barth
A small collection of audio interviews and readings provided by the Lannan Foundation.
PBS Online News Hour presents "Art of the Story" an interview with John Barth, November 1998.
Audio Interviews with John Barth provided by Wired for Books.
Baltimore Magazine interview November, 2008 - with the permission of John Lewis, Baltimore Magazine.
Maryland's Eastern Shore
Of Words and Water: Literature and the Bay - An article about the Chesapeake Bay region as an inspiration to novelists and other writers. Includes a section on John Barth and the Bay, as well as a bibliography of Chesapeake Bay Literature.
Dorchester County Public Library - View the historic marker on the Library's lawn honoring Barth's literary career. With a Maryland library card, the visitor may borrow a Barth novel or use the library's many other services.
Dorchester County Tourism - Enjoy some of the 1700 miles of Dorchester's beautiful shoreline while visiting literary sites that prominently figure in John Barth's life and writing. And, don't leave without savoring the fresh caught Maryland crab and rockfish served at Dorchester's finest restaurants and local eateries.
City of Cambridge, Maryland - The city of Cambridge home page provides information for people looking to live, work, or visit Cambridge.
Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture at Salisbury University - Collects and preserves scholarly materials, and fosters research on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.
Maryland Office of Tourism - Eastern Shore - The official travel page from the state of Maryland includes attractions, places to stay and information on individual counties.
