An In-Depth Glimpse at Kent Haruf’s Life
Born in the city of Pueblo, Colorado, in 1943, Kent Haruf carved a name for himself in the realm of American literary fiction. He laid his educational foundation with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Literature from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1965. This was followed by a Master of Fine Arts from the highly-regarded Iowa Writer’s Workshop at the University of Iowa in 1973.
Haruf’s life experiences were as varied as his literary style. He spent two years teaching English in Turkey, courtesy of the Peace Corps. Beyond the classroom, his varied career included working on a chicken farm, a construction site, a rehabilitation center, a hospital, and a library, as well as an alternative high school and at several universities. Indeed, Haruf’s eclectic experiences formed the backbone of his rich storytelling ability.
Kent Haruf’s Unique Writing Style
Books in order form a snapshot into Haruf’s unique writing style. His artful prose, rich with description and punctuated by vivid storytelling, crafted a uniquely immersive experience for his readers
Chronicling Kent Haruf’s Literary Journey
Haruf’s literary debut came in 1984 with the release of his novel, The Tie That Binds. His writing journey came full circle with his final piece, Our Souls at Night, which was published posthumously in 2015. Throughout his career, Haruf intertwined his personal experiences and novel ideas into his books in an order that reflected his life’s journey
In order to truly appreciate his works, one must understand Kent Haruf’s books in order of their original publication dates. This sequence offers not just a progression in his writing acumen, but also an evolving commentary on society and human nature.
Publication Order of Plainsong Books
| Plainsong | (1999) |    |
| Eventide | (2004) | |
| Benediction | (2013) | |