Donald Heiney
Encyclopedia
Donald Heiney was a sailor and academic as well as a prolific and inventive writer using the pseudonym
of MacDonald Harris for fiction.
Heiney was born in South Pasadena, California
, and grew up in South Pasadena and San Gabriel
. He served in the Merchant Marine
and the Navy
during World War II
and afterward earned a B.A.
from University of Redlands
. He joined the faculty of University of California, Irvine
in 1965 and later co-founded UCI's writing program. One of his students was Michael Chabon
, who later won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
.
Publishers Weekly
has described his work as "known for...metaphysics
, hints of magic and the absurd
, and a profound preoccupation with the duality of human nature
," and the Chicago Tribune
Book World called him "a gifted craftsman, a meticulous writer whose powers as a story teller are as compelling as the sexual tension
s he imagines."
His novel The Balloonist
, published in 1976, tells the story of a polar expedition, similar to and possibly inspired by the real journey made by S. A. Andrée
. The Balloonist was nominated for the National Book Award
.
He received a 1982 Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
for his entire body of work. In 1985 his novel Tenth earned him a Special Achievement Award from the PEN
Los Angeles Center.
Heiney died in 1993, at age 71, at his home in Newport Beach, California
.
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of MacDonald Harris for fiction.
Heiney was born in South Pasadena, California
South Pasadena, California
South Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 25,619, up from 24,292 at the 2000 census. It is located in in the West San Gabriel Valley...
, and grew up in South Pasadena and San Gabriel
San Gabriel, California
San Gabriel is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is named after the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, founded by Junipero Serra. The city grew outward from the mission and in 1852 became the original township of Los Angeles County. San Gabriel was incorporated in 1913...
. He served in the Merchant Marine
United States Merchant Marine
The United States Merchant Marine refers to the fleet of U.S. civilian-owned merchant vessels, operated by either the government or the private sector, that engage in commerce or transportation of goods and services in and out of the navigable waters of the United States. The Merchant Marine is...
and the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and afterward earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from University of Redlands
University of Redlands
The University of Redlands is a private liberal arts and sciences university located in Redlands, California. The university's campus sits on near downtown Redlands. The university was founded in 1907 and was associated with the American Baptist Church. The land for the university was donated by...
. He joined the faculty of University of California, Irvine
University of California, Irvine
The University of California, Irvine , founded in 1965, is one of the ten campuses of the University of California, located in Irvine, California, USA...
in 1965 and later co-founded UCI's writing program. One of his students was Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon
Michael Chabon born May 24, 1963) is an American author and "one of the most celebrated writers of his generation", according to The Virginia Quarterly Review....
, who later won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction has been awarded for distinguished fiction by an American author, preferably dealing with American life. It originated as the Pulitzer Prize for the Novel, which was awarded between 1918 and 1947.-1910s:...
.
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
has described his work as "known for...metaphysics
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
, hints of magic and the absurd
Absurd
Absurd or The Absurd may refer to:* Absurdity, general and technical usage - associated with extremely poor reasoning, the ridiculous, or nonsense....
, and a profound preoccupation with the duality of human nature
Human nature
Human nature refers to the distinguishing characteristics, including ways of thinking, feeling and acting, that humans tend to have naturally....
," and the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
Book World called him "a gifted craftsman, a meticulous writer whose powers as a story teller are as compelling as the sexual tension
Sexual tension
Sexual tension is a social phenomenon that occurs when two people interact and one or both feel sexual desire, but the consummation is postponed or never happens....
s he imagines."
His novel The Balloonist
The Balloonist
The Balloonist is an award-winning novel by the American writer MacDonald Harris. It was first published in 1976 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux. It was nominated for the 1977 National Book Award....
, published in 1976, tells the story of a polar expedition, similar to and possibly inspired by the real journey made by S. A. Andrée
S. A. Andrée's Arctic balloon expedition of 1897
S. A. Andrée's Arctic balloon expedition of 1897 was an ill-fated effort to reach the North Pole in which all three expedition members perished. S. A. Andrée , the first Swedish balloonist, proposed a voyage by hydrogen balloon from Svalbard to either Russia or Canada, which was to pass,...
. The Balloonist was nominated for the National Book Award
National Book Award
The National Book Awards are a set of American literary awards. Started in 1950, the Awards are presented annually to American authors for literature published in the current year. In 1989 the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization which now oversees and manages the National Book...
.
He received a 1982 Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
for his entire body of work. In 1985 his novel Tenth earned him a Special Achievement Award from the PEN
International PEN
PEN International , the worldwide association of writers, was founded in London in 1921 to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere....
Los Angeles Center.
Heiney died in 1993, at age 71, at his home in Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
.
External links
- MacDonald Harris/ Donald Heiney, an informational website maintained by Donald Heiney's son, Paul Heiney