Godhead of modern American prose. Shot to fame in 1985 when his first novel, Less Than Zero, was published while he was still in college. The controversy surrounding his 1991 novel American Psycho brought him considerable attention, some wanted but most of it unwanted. His novels are characterized by their social satire, pervasive drug use (mostly cocaine), and the casual bisexuality of the characters. Other novels: The Rules of Attraction, Glamorama, and Lunar Park. Also published a collection of short stories, The Informers.
by Lauren Hynde April 1, 2006
American postmodernist author of the mid 80's to the current day. Ellis was one of the so called Bratpack of American authors of the 1980's along with Jay McInerney and Tama Janowitz.
Ellis writes exclusively in the first person present tenths,as if the character is narrating the book.
Ellis's first novel 'Less Than Zero'(published while still in College) was a critical and commercial smash. Dealing with the vapid lives of wealthy California teens back from College for the Christmas hollidays. Ellis followed this up with 'The Rules Of Attraction' a college melodrama set in a thinly disguised Bennington college. It received less positive reviews. Then came Ellis's most famous and controversial book 'American Psycho.' The shocking book detailing in gruesome detail the exploits of stock broker and psychopath Patrick Bateman, drew howls of outrage from critics, NoW, and Ellis even received death threats.
What was lost in the furore was that Ellis's book was a scathing satire on the 1980's and as the author himself has said, largerly a feminist book.
Ellis didn't publish another full length novel (the patchy short story collection 'The Informers' aside) until the '99 novel Glamorama. A international thriller dealing with fashion model-terrorists and the increasing shallowness of society it was easily his longest book to date and the hardest to get into.
In 2005 Ellis released Lunar Park a so-called fictional autobiography with Ellis himself as the main character tormented by figures from his past,adjusting to married life in Suburbia copycat killings from AP. Many characters from his books are characters in this socalled autobiography, delighting his hardcore fans.
Ellis writes exclusively in the first person present tenths,as if the character is narrating the book.
Ellis's first novel 'Less Than Zero'(published while still in College) was a critical and commercial smash. Dealing with the vapid lives of wealthy California teens back from College for the Christmas hollidays. Ellis followed this up with 'The Rules Of Attraction' a college melodrama set in a thinly disguised Bennington college. It received less positive reviews. Then came Ellis's most famous and controversial book 'American Psycho.' The shocking book detailing in gruesome detail the exploits of stock broker and psychopath Patrick Bateman, drew howls of outrage from critics, NoW, and Ellis even received death threats.
What was lost in the furore was that Ellis's book was a scathing satire on the 1980's and as the author himself has said, largerly a feminist book.
Ellis didn't publish another full length novel (the patchy short story collection 'The Informers' aside) until the '99 novel Glamorama. A international thriller dealing with fashion model-terrorists and the increasing shallowness of society it was easily his longest book to date and the hardest to get into.
In 2005 Ellis released Lunar Park a so-called fictional autobiography with Ellis himself as the main character tormented by figures from his past,adjusting to married life in Suburbia copycat killings from AP. Many characters from his books are characters in this socalled autobiography, delighting his hardcore fans.
by banky123 July 16, 2006
Modern-day author who wrote sharp, amusing, depressing and sometimes very disturbing satires about superficial people. Notable mention of books centered on cocaine-fueled rich kids in Los Angeles, A yuppie serial killer, a male model etc. He wrote; Less than Zero, The Rules of Attraction, American Psycho, The Informers and Glamorama. I wish he would write more.
Bret Easton Ellis is (or was) great.
by Kyle January 30, 2005