Scope and arrangement
The archive contains material related to the publication of four novels and one unpublished novel written by Auster during the period 1999-2005; material related to the publication of volumes of collected poetry, novels, and prose published in the period 1999-2006; and material related to the genesis of five film projects: the HBO project "I Thought My Father Was God," based on Auster's collection of reminiscences published in 2001; "In the Country of Last Things," based on Auster's novel published in 1987; and "Lulu on the Bridge." Also present are materials related to four nonfiction works, an illustrated fiction project ("Auggie Wren's Christmas Story," first published in 1990); contributions, prefaces, interviews from the period 2000-2005, and material related to reissues of translations completed mostly during the 1970s but published 2002-2005. Additional material includes promotional artwork; programs featuring Paul Auster; and public remarks made by Auster and those introducing him at these events. Also present is material written by others, including creative adaptations of Auster's work and scholarly analyses of his work. The archive is rich in both incoming and outgoing correspondence, and includes letters to and from writers and friends, agents and publishers, as well as translators, readers, students, and organizations. Writers and recipients of correspondence include Pedro Almodóvar, Russell Banks, William Corbett, Don DeLillo, Jonathan Safran Foer, Jonathan Lethem, Sam Messer, Michael Ondaatje, Ron Padgett, Claude Royet-Journoud, and others.
The Paul Auster papers are arranged in six series: