'Flowers for Algernon' author Daniel Keyes dies at 86

[n2doc]

Source: LA Times

Daniel Keyes, the author of "Flowers for Algernon," died Tuesday in Florida, the New York Times has reported, from complications from pneumonia. He was 86.

The Brooklyn-born writer published his most famous work first as a novella, which won the Hugo Award, then in 1966 as a novel, which tied for the Nebula Award and sold millions of copies. The story of a mentally disabled man who followed in a test mouse's footsteps to become a genius, only to later lose his mental powers, struck a chord.

"Flowers for Algernon" was made into a television movie and then as the 1968 feature film "Charly"; Cliff Robertson won the lead actor Oscar for his starring role. It was made as a film again in 2000 with Matthew Modine.

Keyes got undergraduate and graduate degrees from Brooklyn College; he taught creative writing at Wayne State in Michigan and Ohio University. He wrote fiction and nonfiction, including the 1999 memoir "Algernon, Charlie and I."

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/books/jacketcopy/la-et-jc-flowers-for-algernon-author-daniel-keyes-dies-at-86-20140618-story.html

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RIP. FFA was one hell of a story.

[lostincalifornia]

1. It was a hell of a story is right, better than the movie in my view

[Omaha Steve]

7. Even though Marta and I adore Cliff Robertson & Claire Bloom...

The book is much better. Marta and I met Cliff back in 2002 and have it on video somewhere.

My sig file for awhile on the DU was "P.S. please if you get a chanse put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard." - Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon

[yeoman6987]

9. I had to read this in high school

One of the few I remember.

[bobthedrummer]

16. Same here, also 1984, Brave New World and A Catcher In The Rye (1965-67 Milwaukee Public Schools)

[beam me up scottie]

2. One of the most influential books I read as a child.

And re-read as an adult.

RIP, Daniel.

[WinstonSmith4740]

3. One of my top two books.

Could never decide between FFA and To Kill a Mockingbird. RIP Mr. Keyes. Thanks.

[shenmue]

4. Rest in peace

[Lindsay]

5. I had an English class with him

at Ohio University. A lovely man. RIP

[Botany]

11. I was there too ....

..... I never had a class from him but I knew some in the English Dept.
and some others who knew him and the man was a class act.

[nolabear]

6. I got myself in trouble in Jr. High with that book.

I was doing the old "hide it in the schoolbook in the back of the room trick, but I started sobbing uncontrollably and the teacher caught on pretty quickly that it wasn't Biology, or History, or whatever.

The movie tried too hard to be hip. The book, in that agonized voice, broke my little thirteen year old heart.

[lostincalifornia]

12. I think the movie missed the discrimination theme, and putting one in someone else's shoes. The

movie was still ok, I just didn't think it went far enough

[Liberal Veteran]

8. “P.S. please if you get a chanse put some flowrs on Algernons grave in the bak yard.”

RIP.

[awoke_in_2003]

10. I keep meaning to pick this up...

but always keep forgetting.

[randome]

14. Maybe you need the Algernon treatment to help you remember things.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]There is nothing you can't do if you put your mind to it.
Nothing.[/center][/font][hr]

[Android3.14]

13. That story will change how you treat the mentally handicapped

Brilliant storyteller. I hope he found joy and satisfaction in his life.

[greatlaurel]

15. Ohio University had an interesting article about Professor Keyes on their website.

http://www.ohio-forum.com/2014/06/daniel-keyes-professor-and-author-of-flowers-for-algernon-dies-at-86/

Here is the link to the nytimes obit, as well.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/18/books/daniel-keyes-a-novelist-of-the-mind-dies-at-86.html?_r=1