Paul Benjamin Auster is a renowned American author and director known for his unique writing style that blends absurdism, existentialism, crime fiction, and the search for identity and personal meaning. Among his most notable works are The New York Trilogy (1987), Moon Palace (1989), The Music of Chance (1990), The Book of Illusions (2002), and The Brooklyn Follies (2005). His books have been translated into more than forty languages.

Auster was also the bestselling author of 4 3 2 1, Bloodbath Nation, and Baumgartner. In 2006, he was awarded the Prince of Asturias Prize for Literature. Among his other honors are the Prix Médicis Étranger for Leviathan, the Independent Spirit Award for the screenplay of Smoke, and the Premio Napoli for Sunset Park. In 2012, he was the first recipient of the NYC Literary Honors in the category of fiction.

Auster's extensive recognition includes being a finalist for the International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award (for The Book of Illusions), the PEN/Faulkner Award (for The Music of Chance), the Edgar Award (for City of Glass), and the Man Booker Prize (for 4 3 2 1).

He was named a Chevalier of the Order of Arts and Letters in France in 1992 and was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.