Robert James Waller
Robert James Waller
#### Full Name and Common Aliases
Robert James Waller was an American author, best known for his romance novels that captured the hearts of readers worldwide.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: August 1, 1939, in Charles City, Iowa, USA
Died: March 10, 2017, at the age of 77
Nationality and Profession(s)
Waller was an American novelist, known for his prolific writing career that spanned over three decades. He is widely regarded as one of the most successful romance authors in history.
Early Life and Background
Growing up on a farm in Iowa, Waller's early life had a profound impact on his writing. His rural upbringing instilled in him a deep appreciation for nature and the people around him. After serving in the United States Air Force, he attended Drake University in Des Moines, where he earned a degree in philosophy. This intellectual foundation would later influence his writing style.
Major Accomplishments
Waller's literary breakthrough came with the publication of The Bridges of Madison County in 1992. The novel tells the story of a brief but intense romance between a National Geographic photographer and a housewife, set against the stunning backdrop of Iowa's rolling hills. The book became an overnight sensation, selling over 50 million copies worldwide and catapulting Waller to international fame.
Notable Works or Actions
In addition to The Bridges of Madison County, Waller wrote numerous other bestselling novels, including A Thousand Country Roads and Time of Year. He was also a prolific essayist and poet, publishing several collections of his work. Throughout his career, Waller received numerous awards for his writing, cementing his reputation as a masterful storyteller.
Impact and Legacy
Waller's impact on popular literature is undeniable. His novels have been translated into over 50 languages, making him one of the most widely read authors in history. His unique blend of romance, drama, and poetic prose has inspired countless readers to explore the world through his stories.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Waller's writing continues to resonate with readers due to its timeless themes of love, family, and the human condition. His ability to craft relatable characters and settings has made him a beloved figure in modern literature. As an author who transcended genres, Waller's legacy extends far beyond his romance novels, influencing generations of writers and inspiring new voices in the literary world.
As we reflect on Robert James Waller's remarkable life, it becomes clear that he was more than just a bestselling author – he was a masterful storyteller who touched the hearts of readers worldwide. His enduring impact on popular literature serves as a testament to his talent and dedication to his craft.
Quotes by Robert James Waller
My contention is that male hormones are the ultimate cause of trouble on this planet. It was one thing to dominate another tribe or another warrior. It’s quite another to have missiles.
I’ll never say it another time, to anyone, and I ask you to remember it: In a universe of ambiguity, this kind of certainty comes only once, and never again, no matter how many lifetimes you live.
It’s clear to me now that I have been moving toward you and you toward me for a long time. Though neither of us was aware of the other before we met, there was a kind of mindless certainty bumming blithely along beneath our ignorance that ensured we would come together. Like two solitary birds flying the great prairies by celestial reckoning, all of these years and lifetimes we have been moving toward one another.
Why was not important. That was not the way he approached his life. ‘Analysis destroys wholes. Some things, magic things, are meant to stay whole. If you look at their pieces, they go away.
Francesca was feeling good feelings, old feelings, poetry and music feelings.
Something I’ve never been able to adapt to, to understand, is how they can lavish such love and care on the animals and then see them sold for slaughter.
I made that horn sound like it never had before; I made it cry for all the miles and years that separated them.
Sometime I’m going to do an essay called ‘The Virtues of Amateurism’ for all of those people who wish they earned their living in the arts. The market kills more artistic people than anything else. It’s a world of safety out there, for most people. They want safety, the magazines and manufacturers give them safety, give them homogeneity, give them the familiar and comfortable, don’t challenge them.
His eyes looked directly at her, and she felt something jump inside. The eyes, the voice, the face, the silver hair, the easy way he moved his body, old ways, disturbing ways, ways that draw you in. Ways that whisper to you in the final moment before sleep comes, when the barriers have fallen.
People mistake shyness and reclusiveness- both of those- for arrogance. It’s a convenient label slapped on by those who see only the surface of things and nothing more.