About the author
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Arthur Golden was born on June 6, 1956 in Chattanooga, TN. He attended Harvard University and graduated with an art history degree specializing in Japanese art. He also received his masters degree in Japanese history from Colombia University in 1980. He lived and worked in Tokyo for a time. He is married and has a son, and they live in Massachusetts.
Arthur Golden has only written Memoirs of Geisha and it took him over ten years and three drafts to get it right. Between his passion for Japanese history, art, living in Japan, and his blossoming interest in writing he decided to write a novel about the mysterious geisha.
Golden's inspiration for writing Memoirs of a Geisha occurred after meeting a mother who was a geisha (CNN, 1999) during his time in Japan. Arthur interviewed many geisha throughout the process of this book, including Mineko Iwasaki, who after the book was translated into Japanese, sued Golden.
After the success of Golden's first book, he waited five years to agree to another contract for writing his follow-up book. His second book is about a boy from Amsterdam in the nineteenth century, who after a tragedy comes to the US. There is still no set publication date for his second novel.
Arthur Golden has only written Memoirs of Geisha and it took him over ten years and three drafts to get it right. Between his passion for Japanese history, art, living in Japan, and his blossoming interest in writing he decided to write a novel about the mysterious geisha.
Golden's inspiration for writing Memoirs of a Geisha occurred after meeting a mother who was a geisha (CNN, 1999) during his time in Japan. Arthur interviewed many geisha throughout the process of this book, including Mineko Iwasaki, who after the book was translated into Japanese, sued Golden.
After the success of Golden's first book, he waited five years to agree to another contract for writing his follow-up book. His second book is about a boy from Amsterdam in the nineteenth century, who after a tragedy comes to the US. There is still no set publication date for his second novel.
Interviews and other information about Arthur golden
CNN interview with Arthur Golden
This interview discusses what inspired Golden to write Memoirs of a Geisha, and what it was like for him to write this female role.
A biography of Arthur Golden
A brief overview of Golden's life and passion for Japanese culture.
Bookbrowse interview
This interview addresses Golden's opinions on topics such as whether geisha are prostitutes or if Sayuri is based on a real geisha.
Wall Street Journal Article about Golden's success
This article discusses Golden's success and his second, upcoming book.
This interview discusses what inspired Golden to write Memoirs of a Geisha, and what it was like for him to write this female role.
A biography of Arthur Golden
A brief overview of Golden's life and passion for Japanese culture.
Bookbrowse interview
This interview addresses Golden's opinions on topics such as whether geisha are prostitutes or if Sayuri is based on a real geisha.
Wall Street Journal Article about Golden's success
This article discusses Golden's success and his second, upcoming book.