A. Alvarez
British author and critic
Also known as: Al Alvarez, Alfred Alvarez
Quick Facts
- Notable Works: “Day of Atonement”, “The Savage God”
- Also called: Al Alvarez
- In full: Alfred Alvarez
- Born: August 5, 1929, London, England
- Died: September 23, 2019 (aged 90)
A. Alvarez (born August 5, 1929, London, England—died September 23, 2019) was a distinguished British novelist, essayist, and critic whose publications investigate the dynamic interplay between public and private influences that are crucial in shaping individual personality and behavior.
Although Alvarez’s family possessed significant economic and cultural privileges, both of his parents made notable suicide attempts during his early years. He matriculated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, where he established the Critical Society. Subsequently, Alvarez advanced his critical pursuits as a visiting fellow at Princeton (1953–54) and at other important academic institutions.
Following the release of two fundamental works of criticism and several notable evaluations of contemporary writers in various periodicals, Alvarez shifted his focus to creative writing in 1966. His initial poetry collection, Lost, was published two years later, succeeded by Apparition (1971) and Autumn to Autumn, and Selected Poems, 1953–1976 (1978). His novels include Hers (1974), a bleak depiction of a marriage devoid of affection; Hunt (1978), in which the protagonist becomes entangled in the life of a woman he finds unconscious on Hampstead Heath; and Day of Atonement (1991), a psychological thriller.
Alvarez’s most notable publication is arguably the best-selling The Savage God (1971), an in-depth examination of suicide. Additional nonfiction works include Night: Night Life, Night Language, Sleep and Dreams (1994), a meditation on the significance of night; The Writer’s Voice (2005), which offers reflections on the act of writing; and Pondlife: A Swimmer’s Journal (2013), where daily swimming provides insightful perspectives on aging. Alvarez was an avid poker player, and he explored the complexities of the card game in The Biggest Game in Town (1983), Poker: Bets, Bluffs, and Bad Beats (2001), and Risky Business (2007). Where Did It All Go Right? (1999) serves as his memoir.