Denis Johnson (1949-2017) was an American writer, poet, and playwright, considered one of the most influential voices in contemporary American literature. His fame is primarily linked to the short story collection *Jesus' Son* (1992), an iconic work that explores in a lyrical and fragmented style the lives of characters on the margins of society, marked by addiction and a desperate search for grace. His career also includes major novels, notably *Tree of Smoke* (2007), an epic about the Vietnam War that earned him the National Book Award for Fiction, one of the highest American literary honors. Other significant works include the novella *Train Dreams* (2011), a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His writing, characterized by precise and poetic prose, delves into the depths of the human condition, blending violence and transcendence, and has left an indelible mark on the literature of his time.