Writer

David Foster Wallace

American fiction writer and essayist

1962 - 2008

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His biography is available in 44 different languages on Wikipedia. David Foster Wallace is the 3,675th most popular writer (down from 2,981st in 2024), the 5,307th most popular biography from United States (down from 3,764th in 2019) and the 408th most popular American Writer.

Memorability Metrics

1.2M

Page Views

Past 12 months

58.80

HPI

Historical Popularity Index

Data Insights

44

David Foster Wallace's biography appears in 44 language editions of Wikipedia — more than 88% of all Writers.

Feb 21

David Foster Wallace shares a February 21 birthday with Harald V, Peter III of Russia, and Alan Rickman.

10×

David Foster Wallace's Wikipedia page drew 1.2M views over the past year — 10× the average among Writers.

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Among Writers

Among writers, David Foster Wallace ranks 3,675 out of 7,302. Before him are Alaa Al Aswany, Alexandru Macedonski, Lisa Tetzner, Ram Prasad Bismil, Yan Lianke, and Nikolay Ogarev. After him are Alain Chartier, Robert B. Spencer, Penelope Fitzgerald, James A. Michener, Rose Wilder Lane, and Octavia E. Butler.

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Contemporaries

Among people born in 1962, David Foster Wallace ranks 162. Before him are Victor Pelevin, Nigmatilla Yuldashev, Maruschka Detmers, Karel Roden, Tariq Ramadan, and Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. After him are Robert B. Spencer, Sırrı Süreyya Önder, Kim Vilfort, Maryna Poroshenko, Victoria Ruffo, and Thomas Gibson. Among people deceased in 2008, David Foster Wallace ranks 183. Before him are Yuri Rytkheu, Anton Allemann, Albert Cossery, Arthur Chung, Peter Poreku Dery, and Boris Yefimov. After him are Ja'afar of Negeri Sembilan, Antonio Innocenti, Freddie Hubbard, Galyani Vadhana, Robert Prosky, and René Harris.

Others Born in 1962

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Others Deceased in 2008

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In United States

Among people born in United States, David Foster Wallace ranks 5,307 out of 20,380. Before him are Sable (1967), Lauren German (1978), James Crafts (1839), Ram Dass (1931), Betty Holberton (1917), and Alexander Payne (1961). After him are Martha Jefferson Randolph (1772), Mary Surratt (1823), Alice Coltrane (1937), Robert B. Spencer (1962), Susana Martinez (1959), and Michael Moriarty (1941).

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Among Writers In United States

Among writers born in United States, David Foster Wallace ranks 408. Before him are Brandon Sanderson (1975), L. J. Smith (1965), Gary Snyder (1930), William Goldman (1931), Howard Pyle (1853), and Katherine Anne Porter (1890). After him are Robert B. Spencer (1962), James A. Michener (1907), Rose Wilder Lane (1886), Octavia E. Butler (1947), Steve Berry (1955), and Charles Fort (1874).

American born Writers

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