Kurt Vonnegut

Born in Indianapolis in 1922, Kurt Vonnegut served in World War II and survived the bombing of Dresden as a prisoner of war. That experience became central to Slaughterhouse-Five, the novel that made him famous and helped define his blend of antiwar feeling, absurd humor, and sharp social criticism.

Over a career that stretched for decades, he wrote novels, stories, plays, and essays, including Cat’s Cradle, Breakfast of Champions, and Player Piano. His work often uses science fiction and comedy to ask serious questions about cruelty, power, free will, and what people owe one another.

Vonnegut died in 2007, but his writing remains widely read for its plain style, moral clarity, and stubborn compassion. Even at his bleakest, he could be very funny, which is part of why his books continue to speak to new generations of readers.