NEW YORK — Renowned novelist and whimsical thinker Tom Robbins, known for captivating readers with his quirky tales such as “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues” and “Jitterbug Perfume,” has passed away at the age of 92.
His death was confirmed by friend and publishing executive Craig Popelars, who shared that Robbins died on Sunday morning.
Robbins, who described his unique perspective on life as “crazy wisdom,” authored eight novels along with a memoir entitled “Tibetan Peach Pie.” His fondness for a bizarre and humorous universe was evident in his writing, featuring offbeat characters and nonlinear plots. From a heroine with unusually long thumbs to the comical scenario of Jesus’ corpse in a zoo, Robbins was unmatched in creativity. He often joked about his own voice, likening it to being “strained through Davy Crockett’s underwear.”
Embracing his identity, Robbins was characterized as “the perpetual flower child and wild blooming Peter Pan of American letters” by People magazine, who noted that he infused historical moments with bizarre and inventive storytelling.
Originally from Blowing Rock, North Carolina, Robbins often drew parallels between his life and his fictional narratives. He recounted an incident where he visited a proctologist while wearing a duck mask, which struck up an unexpected friendship. He amusingly recalled another story involving a waitress in Texas who revealed his autograph inked on her skin.
An interesting highlight in his career occurred during the 1990s when the FBI sought leads regarding the Unabomber by engaging with Robbins and his work “Still Life with Woodpecker.” He playfully remarked about being approached by two attractive agents from the bureau.
Robbins enjoyed some celebrity encounters, especially due to the film adaptation of “Even Cowgirls,” featuring Uma Thurman and Keanu Reeves. He humorously described being Debra Winger’s companion at the Academy Awards and a near-fatal encounter with cologne while trying to impress Al Pacino at an after-party. In contrast, he fondly remembered a hotel clerk who recognized him while seemingly overlooking rock legend Neil Young standing next to him.
The theme of a quest intertwined throughout Robbins’ books, embodying the adventurous spirit of the 1960s. His own experiences of dropping acid, hitchhiking across the country, and traveling to places like Tanzania and the Himalayas enriched his perspective as a writer. He preferred to depict the era through personal encounters rather than relying on fleeting pop culture references.
In his memoir, published in 2014, he wrote about being part of an unparalleled cultural phenomenon during that time, using phrases such as “psychic upheaval” to sum up the societal transformation he witnessed firsthand.
Robbins’ winding path to writing fiction was as unique as his literary style. He dropped out of Washington and Lee University, where he coincidentally crossed paths with Tom Wolfe, and later enlisted in the Air Force due to uncertainty about his future. Eventually, he settled in the Pacific Northwest in the early ’60s, where he fortuitously found himself reviewing operas for the Seattle Times, becoming known for his humorous comparisons of classical composers to Hollywood figures.
By the late 1960s, Robbins’ antics had garnered attention, leading to a meeting with a Doubleday editor who recognized his potential. His debut, “Another Roadside Attraction,” released in 1971, initially struggled in hardcover sales but gained massive popularity in paperback. “Even Cowgirls Get the Blues,” published in 1976, went on to sell over a million copies.
Notably, literary critiques of Robbins’ work acknowledged the unconventional structure of his narratives. A review in The New York Times remarked that approaching “Even Cowgirls” with expectations of conventional storytelling could be disappointing, yet it was nonetheless engaging and enlightening.
Robbins’ personal life was marked by its own challenges and adventures; he navigated through two marriages and had three children before finding a partner in third wife Alexa d’Avalon, who also appeared in the film adaptation of “Even Cowgirls.”
His literary legacy extended to other works like “Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas,” “Fierce Invalids Home from Home,” and “Villa Incognito.” He received notable recognitions, including the Bumbershoot Golden Umbrella Award for Lifetime Achievement, and while he enjoyed accolades, he cherished a letter from a fan who expressed how his books inspired laughter, thought, passion, and a sense of wonder about the world.