Winston Groom

Easton Press Winston Groom books

Forrest Gump - signed modern classic - 2002

Franklin Library Winston Groom books

Gump & Co. - signed first edition - 1995

 

Author Winston Groom

Winston Groom, born on March 23, 1943, was an American author best known for his novel Forrest Gump. Born in Washington, D.C., Groom grew up in Mobile, Alabama. He developed a passion for writing from an early age and went on to pursue his education at the University of Alabama, where he earned a degree in English in 1965. After completing his studies, Groom served in the United States Army, including a tour of duty during the Vietnam War. His military experiences would later influence some of his writings, adding a layer of authenticity to his narratives.

Groom began his literary career as a journalist and worked as a reporter for the Washington Star before transitioning to a full-time author. His early works, including Better Times Than These (1978) and As Summers Die (1980), showcased his storytelling prowess and garnered critical acclaim. However, it was the publication of Forrest Gump in 1986 that brought Groom widespread recognition and success. The novel tells the extraordinary life story of Forrest Gump, a man with limited intelligence but a remarkable series of adventures and achievements. The book was later adapted into the highly successful 1994 film of the same name, starring Tom Hanks in the titular role. The film became a cultural phenomenon and won several Academy Awards.

While Forrest Gump was Groom's most famous work, he continued to write prolifically, exploring various genres, including historical fiction and non-fiction. Some of his notable works include The Crimson Tide: An Illustrated History of Football at the University of Alabama and The Aviators: Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and the Epic Age of Flight.

Winston Groom's writing style often combined historical events with compelling storytelling, making his works accessible to a wide audience. He remained a respected and influential figure in the literary world, contributing not only to fiction but also to the understanding of American history through his engaging narratives. Groom passed away on September 17, 2020, leaving behind a legacy of impactful storytelling and cultural contributions.

Forrest Gump - Book 1

Meet Forrest Gump, the lovable, herculean, and surprisingly savvy hero of this remarkable comic odyssey. After accidentally becoming the star of University of Alabama's football team, Forrest goes on to become a Vietnam War hero, a world-class Ping-Pong player, a villainous wrestler, and a business tycoon as he wonders with childlike wisdom at the insanity all around him. In between misadventures, he manages to compare battle scars with Lyndon Johnson, discover the truth about Richard Nixon, and survive the ups and downs of remaining true to his only love, Jenny, on an extraordinary journey through three decades of the American cultural landscape. Forrest Gump has one heck of a story to tell and you've got to read it to believe it...

Six foot six, 242 pounds, and possessed of a scant IQ of 70, Forrest Gump is the lovable, surprisingly savvy hero of this classic comic tale. His early life may seem inauspicious, but when the University of Alabama’s football team drafts Forrest and makes him a star, it sets him on an unbelievable path that will transform him from Vietnam hero to world-class Ping-Pong player, from wrestler to entrepreneur. With a voice all his own, Forrest is telling all in a madcap romp through three decades of American history.

Forrest Gump is the picturesque story of an idiot and his incredible life in America in the 70s and 80s. After a more or less peaceful start to life, Forrest's adventures begin: Gump is selected for the American football team of a great University, becomes the star of a rock band, is a ping-pong champion, a hero of the Vietnam War, a professional fighter and becomes a millionaire raising and selling shrimp. Furthermore, like most idiots in literature, he is much smarter than the people around him. And he is not an ordinary idiot either: he is an "idiot savant", capable of very complicated mathematical calculations and of programming NASA's complex computers - and that is why he also becomes an astronaut on a space mission, together with a monkey and the first woman in the world. space. And all this after meeting President Lyndon Johnson and saving Mao Tse Tung from drowning!

In 1994, the film with the same name was released, directed by Robert Zemeckis and with Tom Hanks in the main role.

Gump & Co. - Book 2

Forrest Gump captured our hearts in the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Forrest Gump, and in the blockbuster film, winner of six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor for Tom Hanks. Now he returns in the long-awaited sequel to the book hailed by Larry King as "the funniest novel I have ever read." A little older, and wiser in his unique way, Forrest is still running this time straight into the age of greed and instant gratification known as the 1980s.

Struggling to make a life for his young son when the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company takes a dive, Forrest Gump shares a second series of offbeat adventures that entangle him with the Coca-Cola company and Oliver North.

Forrest Gump is back! The lovable man for all ages captured America's heart in the No.1 bestselling novel Forrest Gump and in the blockbuster film, winner of six Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Actor. Now he returns in the long-awaited sequel to the book hailed by Larry King as 'the funniest novel I have ever read'. A little older, and wiser in his own unique way, he is still running through the kaleidoscopic events of our times and straight into the age of greed and instant gratification known as the 1980s.