William Wharton
Writer and painter whose novel Birdy drew on his own wartime experiences
Michael Carlson writing in The Guardian,
Tuesday November 4 2008

When William Wharton's first novel, Birdy, was published in 1979, he was already 53 years old, an American expatriate painter living in Paris. But his identity remained a mystery, because Wharton, who has died aged 82, chose that name as a pseudonym for his writing, while painting under his real name, Albert du Aime. The Wharton persona was soon the better known, as Birdy became an instant bestseller, won the American Book award for best first novel, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer prize. It was adapted in 1984 by Alan Parker into a well-received film, starring Matthew Modine and Nicolas Cage.

Read the full obituary at the Guardian online.