Ron Hansen
Ron Hansen
Full Name and Common Aliases
Ron Hansen is an American novelist, short story writer, and essayist. His full name is Ronald Patrick Hansen.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on April 14, 1947, in San Francisco, California. Still alive as of my knowledge cutoff date.
Nationality and Profession(s)
American author known for his literary fiction, historical fiction, and mystery novels.
Early Life and Background
Ron Hansen was born to a family of modest means in San Francisco's Mission District. His early life was marked by a strong sense of social justice and community involvement. He grew up surrounded by the city's vibrant cultural scene, which would later influence his writing style. After graduating from high school, Hansen attended the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969.
Major Accomplishments
Hansen has received numerous awards and nominations for his work, including:
Guggenheim Fellowship (1985)
National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship (1972-73)
PEN West Fiction Award (1990)
His novels have been praised for their lyrical prose, nuanced characterization, and exploration of American history and culture.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Hansen's notable works include:
"Desperadoes" (1979), a historical novel about the 1934 Kansas City Massacre
"Assassination Valley" (1983), a mystery novel set in 19th-century California
"Harrison Bergeron" (1997), a collection of short stories that explore the human condition
Impact and Legacy
Ron Hansen's writing has had a significant impact on American literature. His novels often blend historical fiction with elements of mystery, creating a unique narrative voice that explores the complexities of American culture. Through his work, Hansen has shed light on lesser-known periods in American history, such as the 1934 Kansas City Massacre and the lives of ordinary people during times of crisis.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Ron Hansen is widely quoted and remembered for several reasons:
His innovative narrative style, which combines elements of literary fiction with historical research
His ability to craft complex characters that resonate with readers
His exploration of American history and culture, often through the lens of lesser-known events and figures
His commitment to social justice and community involvement, as reflected in his early life and writing
Throughout his career, Hansen has demonstrated a passion for storytelling, historical research, and literary innovation. His novels continue to captivate readers with their nuanced characterization, atmospheric settings, and exploration of the human condition.
Quotes by Ron Hansen
I want people to notice God’s actions in their lives and in the lives of others and to have sympathy for other people. I want them to see that there is something going on here that matters.
We try to be formed and held and kept by him, but instead he offers us freedom. And now when I try to know his will, his kindness floods me, his great love overwhelms me, and I hear him whisper, Surprise me.
Are you even aware of hot hot and cold you are? How you seduce and then withdraw, tantalize and then retreat? Even with men you’re like that. You’re a mystery to people, you keep us off-balance and guessing. We have to presume what you’re thinking or feeling. And instead of being frustrated we find ourselves fascinated, and we make things up about you out of our own hopes and needs and all the dangerous things we’re afraid to do.
Size me up and get goosebumps, boys. I’m the widowmaker and the slayer of jungles, the mean-eyed harbinger of desolation! I’ve ripped a catamount asunder and sprinkled his fragments in my stew; one screech from me makes vultures fly, one glance puts blisters on grizzly bears, devastation rides on my every breath! Where is that stately stag to stamp his hoof or rap his antlers to these proclamations! Where is the mangy lion what will lick the salt off my name!
![Oh, he was so dashing and romantic and cast-out by the world, I couldn’t help but love him. […] He was a figure out of a girl’s storybook. Gentle, adoring, dangerous, strong. Surely you must have felt the same things. He has a magic about him. He steps straight into your heart.](/_vercel/image?url=https:%2F%2Flakl0ama8n6qbptj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fquotes%2Fquote-832219.png&w=1536&q=100)
Oh, he was so dashing and romantic and cast-out by the world, I couldn’t help but love him. […] He was a figure out of a girl’s storybook. Gentle, adoring, dangerous, strong. Surely you must have felt the same things. He has a magic about him. He steps straight into your heart.
![[John C. Brown] “You ought to keep the Sabbath, Bob.”[Bob Ford] “You got your religion, I got my own. It isn’t right to spoon it down our throats every Sunday.”“It’s just that me and the missus, we’re Spirit-fired people, and when you think you’ve got the answer, well, you want to share it.”“I’d just as soon as you didn’t”, said Bob.](/_vercel/image?url=https:%2F%2Flakl0ama8n6qbptj.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fquotes%2Fquote-832218.png&w=1536&q=100)
[John C. Brown] “You ought to keep the Sabbath, Bob.”[Bob Ford] “You got your religion, I got my own. It isn’t right to spoon it down our throats every Sunday.”“It’s just that me and the missus, we’re Spirit-fired people, and when you think you’ve got the answer, well, you want to share it.”“I’d just as soon as you didn’t”, said Bob.
As Jesse talked the sun down, the hours late, Zerelda smiled and dreamed of him as he had been and was and would be. It seemed everything about him was dynamic and masculine and romantic ; he was more vital even in his illness than any man she’d ever known.
He also had a condition that was referred to as granulated eyelids and it caused him to blink more than usual, as if he found creation slightly more than he could accept.
I want people to notice God's actions in their lives and in the lives of others and to have sympathy for other people. I want them to see that there is something going on here that matters
Are you even aware of hot hot and cold you are? How you seduce and then withdraw, tantalize and then retreat? Even with men you're like that. You're a mystery to people, you keep us off-balance and guessing. We have to presume what you're thinking or feeling. And instead of being frustrated we find ourselves fascinated, and we make things up about you out of our own hopes and needs and all the dangerous things we're afraid to do.