Paul Auster, the acclaimed American novelist best known for "The New York Trilogy," has passed away at the age of 77.

Paul Auster, the prolific author known for his highly stylized postmodernist fiction, including "The New York Trilogy," "Leviathan," and "4 3 2 1," has passed away at the age of 77 due to complications from lung cancer. His death was confirmed by his close friend and fellow author Jacki Lyden to The Guardian.

Auster's work is renowned for its exploration of complex themes such as coincidence, fate, and the unreliable nature of narrators. His narratives often featured shifting plot foundations and characters who are writers themselves, weaving a self-referential tapestry throughout his extensive body of work.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1947, Auster's interest in writing sparked at a young age. He once recounted an influential childhood incident when he missed the chance to get an autograph from baseball hero Willie Mays because he didn't have a pencil, leading him to thereafter always carry one. Auster's life was marked by striking instances of chance, notably at age 14 when a peer was fatally struck by lightning right next to him during a summer camp—a pivotal moment that deeply influenced his thematic focus on chance in his later works.

Auster's literary breakthrough came with the publication of "City of Glass" in 1985, the first book in his acclaimed New York Trilogy, which masterfully used the detective story format to probe existential questions and explore the nature of identity and language.

Beyond his novels, Auster's career included ventures into film, notably writing the screenplay for "Smoke," which earned him the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay in 1995. He also garnered significant accolades including Spain’s Prince of Asturias Prize for literature and the French Prix Médicis Étranger for "Leviathan."

Paul Auster's impact extended far beyond his native United States, with a particularly fervent following in Europe, where he was seen as a literary rock star. His final novel, "Baumgartner," about a widowed writer, was published shortly before his passing.

Auster is survived by his wife, author Siri Hustvedt, daughter Sophie Auster, sister Janet Auster, and a grandson. His legacy continues through his thought-provoking works and the indelible mark he left on contemporary literature.

In light of World Press Freedom Day, we reflect on the importance of free expression, which Auster championed through his explorations of language and reality. We invite our readers to support independent journalism, a cause vital for maintaining a healthy, democratic society. If you are moved by the power of storytelling and the pursuit of truth, consider supporting our efforts to continue providing independent, global journalism.