Kosinski, Jerzy Nikodem (1933–1991)

Polish-born US author, in the USA from 1957. His childhood experiences as a Jew in Poland during World War II are recounted in The Painted Bird 1965, a popular success. The novel that established his cult status, the comic media satire Being There 1971 (filmed 1979), was followed by increasingly violent works such as The Devil Tree 1974, Pinball 1982, and The Hermit of 69th Street 1987.

His other works include Steps 1968, which won the National Book Award, and Passion Play 1979. He was born in Łódź, and escaped from Poland through the USSR during World War II. He was then educated as a sociologist at the university in Łódź but eventually went to the USA in 1957. He taught himself English, the language in which he wrote.