Introduction and Early Life

Tim O’Brien is one of the most prolific authors from the Vietnam War era. His works shed light on the trials and tribulations of young American men who were drafted into a war that forced the world to question the basic ideals of humanity. Tim O’Brien’s pieces relate the emotions of the Vietnam War and the young men who fought in that war to contemporary society and have become a foundation in literature and history courses for countless students. This web site is dedicated to Tim O’Brien and his contributions to American Literature.

Tim O’Brien was born William Timothy O’Brien on October 1, 1946 in the small town of Austin, Minnesota. After spending is youth in Worthington, Minnesota, he attended Macalester College in St. Paul, graduating summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1968.