John Fante

John Fante (April 8 1909 – May 8 1983) was an Italian‑American novelist, short‑story writer and screenwriter. He is best known for the semi‑autobiographical novel *Ask the Dust* (1939), which follows struggling writer Arturo Bandini in Depression‑era Los Angeles; the book is frequently cited as a major Los Angeles novel and forms part of the “Bandini Quartet,” a series of four novels published between 1938 and 1985. *Ask the Dust* was adapted into a 2006 film starring Colin Farrell. During his lifetime Fante released five novels, one novella and a short‑story collection; two additional novels, two novellas and two short‑story collections were issued after his death. His screenwriting credits include *Full of Life* (1956), based on his 1952 novel of the same name, *Jeanne Eagels* (1957) and the 1962 films *Walk on the Wild Side* and *The Reluctant Saint*.