John Edward Williams was an esteemed American writer and educator. He was born on August 29, 1922, and his literary contributions have left a lasting impact on American literature. Williams enlisted in the USAAF during World War II and spent over two years as a sergeant in India and Burma.

His debut novel, Nothing But the Night, was published in 1948, followed by his first volume of poems, The Broken Landscape, in 1949. In the fall of 1955, he took over the directorship of the creative writing program at the University of Denver, where he taught for more than three decades.

After retiring from the University of Denver in 1986, he moved with his wife, Nancy, to Fayetteville, Arkansas. He continued to influence the literary world until his death in 1994. His most notable works include the novels Stoner and Augustus, which have been celebrated for their profound exploration of human experience.