Charles Portis author page

Charles Portis biography

Charles Portis was an American author known for his novels, particularly in the genres of Western and comic fiction. He was born in El Dorado, Arkansas. Portis served in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War before attending the University of Arkansas, where he earned a degree in journalism. After college, he worked as a reporter for several newspapers, including the Arkansas Gazette and the New York Herald Tribune.

Portis published his first novel, Norwood, in 1966. He is best known for his 1968 novel True Grit, which tells the story of a young girl’s quest to avenge her father’s death with the help of a U.S. Marshal. His other works include The Dog of the South (1979), Masters of Atlantis (1985), and Gringos (1991). Portis’s writing is noted for its dry wit, distinctive characters, and unique narrative voice.

In 2010, the Oxford American magazine devoted an entire issue to Portis’s work, highlighting his influence and legacy in American literature.