Collection of short stories by former Colgate professor Frederick Busch wins praise

Back to All Stories

Frederick Busch
This past week marked the release of a book of stories by one of Colgate’s most beloved professors, the late Frederick Busch.

The Stories of Frederick Busch was edited by Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Elizabeth Strout, a former visiting professor at Colgate, and features a selection of short stories that focuses on interpersonal relationships between family members.

The book already has received great reviews by the likes of Dan Cryer of Newsday and others.

Busch, who died in 2006 at age 64, was regarded as a master of fiction and the short story. Often called a “writer’s writer,” he taught at Colgate for 37 years and published 27 books. Among the many prizes he received were the PEN/Malamud Award and the American Academy of Arts and Letters Fiction Award.

Busch was also responsible for establishing the popular Living Writers course and reading series, which established an innovative way for students to learn as well as become inspired to continue with writing throughout their lives.

Strout, who participated in Living Writers in 2009, selected the stories featured in the new book. She herself is the author of four novels including the Pulitzer Prize–winning Olive Kitteridge and, most recently, The Burgess Boys.

The Stories of Frederick Busch is sure to serve as a tribute to the prolific writer and renowned professor who left such an indelible mark on the Colgate campus and on the world of literature. The book is available through the Colgate Bookstore.