Indiana Writer: Michael Martone

 Before I say anything else: I am in awe of Michael Martone.

He writes these great short stories of Indiana. I think he might be the best writer of Indiana since Ross Lockridge, Jr. 

Kurt Vonnegut referenced Indiana in most of his novel (all, I think), but only God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater is set in Indiana. He wrote more about Indiana in Palm Sunday; a collection of essays. As much as I like Vonnegut, he is not a great short story writer.

Theodore Dreiser may be the most important novelist to be from Indiana. He never put a novel in Indiana. He does write of Indiana in his non-fiction. No one has ever thought of Dreiser as either a great stylist or as a short story writer.

Booth Tarkington did write of Indiana, and he could write a short story. Tarkington has lost his audience, except for dedicated Hoosiers and some academics. I find his style a little fusty and sentimental; certainly he belongs to the mainstream of his day. Indianapolis is his muse, not Indiana. Martone is innovative. 

Boring becomes strange when we start taking notice. 

Michael Martone's webpage.

YouTube resources for Martone follow. 

 Bookmark with Don Noble: Michael Martone (2023)

 8/7/25, Michael Martone/Virtual Thursdays Dire Literary Series, plus Q and A with Timothy Gager

Michael Martone: Tuesdays with BOA

Michael Martone Wins National Author Award in 2013 Indiana Authors Awards

Michael Martone on Re-retirement: “This Will Be Weird, Too” (Department of English)

sch 11/15