Kevin Baker: An American Crime Author

Early Life and Education

Kevin Baker was born on April 27, 1958, in Trenton, New Jersey. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied English. After graduating in 1980, he moved to New York City, where he began his career as a writer.

Writing Career

Baker's first novel, Dreamland, was published in 1999. The novel tells the story of a group of Irish immigrants who come to New York City in the 1880s. The novel was a critical and commercial success, and it won the PEN/Hemingway Award.

Baker has since published five more novels, including Paradise Alley (2002), The Big Crowd (2008), and Strivers Row (2011). His novels have been praised for their historical accuracy, their vivid characters, and their compelling stories.

In addition to his novels, Baker has also written several non-fiction books, including The Best of the City: A Celebration of New York (2004) and America: The Book (2012). He has also written for The New York Times, The New Yorker, and other publications.

Awards and Honors

Baker has received numerous awards for his writing, including the PEN/Hemingway Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award, and the New York Public Library's Literary Lion Award.

Personal Life

Baker is married to the writer Sarah Shun-lien Bynum. They live in Brooklyn, New York.