1909 – 1983

John Fante

1909–1983; American novelist, short story writer and screenwriter of Italian descent

novelistwriterscreenwriter
Born
1909-04-08, Boulder
Died
1983-05-08
Birthplace state
Colorado

Biography

John Fante was an American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his semi-autobiographical novel Ask the Dust (1939) about the life of Arturo Bandini, a struggling writer in Depression-era Los Angeles. It is widely considered the great Los Angeles novel, and is one in a series of four, published between 1938 and 1985, that are now collectively called "The Bandini Quartet." Ask the Dust was adapted into a 2006 film starring Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek. Fante's published works while he lived included five novels, one novella, and a short story collection. Additional works, including two novels, two novellas, and two short story collections, were published posthumously. His screenwriting credits include, most notably, Full of Life, Jeanne Eagels (1957), and the 1962 films Walk on the Wild Side and The Reluctant Saint.

Occupation

John Fante is recorded as a novelist, a writer and a screenwriter, born in Colorado (1909–1983).

Connections to Colorado

John Fante was born in Boulder, Colorado in 1909. Explore other notable figures from Colorado, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Colorado›Coloradohistory ›Historic sites in Colorado›
Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Boulder

John Fante came from Boulder. A full Aubrey report on Boulder pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Boulder report
Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Colorado

Other historical figures born in Colorado, ranked by historical prominence.

Willard Libby
Willard Libby
American physical chemist
Ken Kesey
Ken Kesey
American novelist (1935–2001)
Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks
American actor, screenwriter, director, and producer (1883–1939)
Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons
American sociologist (1902 – 1979)
Edward Lawrie Tatum
Edward Lawrie Tatum
US genetics scientist (1909-1975)
John Searle
John Searle
American philosopher (1932–2025)
Dalton Trumbo
Dalton Trumbo
American screenwriter (1905–1976)

Frequently asked about John Fante

Who was John Fante?
John Fante was 1909–1983; American novelist, short story writer and screenwriter of Italian descent, born in Colorado (1909 – 1983).
When and where was John Fante born?
John Fante was born on 1909-04-08 in Boulder.
When did John Fante die?
John died on 1983-05-08.
What was John Fante known for?
John Fante is recorded as a novelist, a writer and a screenwriter.
Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your locationView a free sample report