James Salter

Salter is considered one of the finest "writers' writers" in the U.S. in the second half of the 20th century. Born in 1925 in Passaic, NJ, Salter had his work published in _Poetry_ magazine while still in high school. His father, a former West Pointer, convinced him to attend the military institute, from which he graduated in 1945. His exploits as an Air Force fighter pilot are recounted in his memoirs, _Burning the Days_. He started writing while stationed in Honolulu, although his first novel wasn't published until 1956, just before he resigned from the Air Force. Salter has worked only intermittently on films.