Denis Johnson, Who Wrote Of The Down And Out And Desperate, And Inspired Thousands Of Other Writers, Has Died At 67

He published a book of poetry at 19 and got his degrees from the University of Iowa, but then addictions derailed him for years. “Mr. Johnson initially believed that sobriety would damage his creativity, but later realized that his addictions were not fueling much writing.” When he got sober, he wrote many things, including Jesus’ Son, a beloved book of linked short stories.