A novel without letters, a play in forty-five phone calls, and a life narrated entirely through footnotes – these works exemplify Mark Dunn’s penchant for pushing the boundaries of form in both theatrical and literary genres. Dunn, an American author,  has written more than thirty plays and several novels. His most notable works showcase narratives that unfold through various modes of interpersonal communication, such as phone calls and letters. This distinctive approach is particularly evident in his plays

Belles

and the sequel

Belles: The Reunion

, as well as his novels

Ella Minnow Pea

and

Ibid: A Life

.

Born in 1956 in Memphis, Tennessee, Dunn studied film and screenwriting. His theatrical works are primarily performed off-off-Broadway, in high schools, universities, and community

811 words

Citation: Franzetti, Sindija. "Mark Dunn". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 24 July 2024 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=15212, accessed 21 November 2024.]

15212 Mark Dunn 1 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

Save this article

Leave Feedback

The Literary Encyclopedia is a living community of scholars. We welcome comments which will help us improve.