ANDRE DUBUS (August 11, 1936 - February 24, 1999) was an American short story wryter, essay ist, and autobiographer. He is recognized ad one of the best American short-story writers in the 2o th century. But above all is a hero.

"Lights of the long night" is a description of the night of July, 1986. Dubus was driving from Boston to his home when he stopped to help two motorists, Llluis and Luz Santiago, who had impacted with a motocycle. Fate sometimes plays tricks and thet night wanted another car hit Dubus and Luis but not Luz. The car didn't hit her because Dubus, despite he had time to get to shelter, instead of thinking about himself he thought of Luz and he pushed her away from the lights, the same lights he hoped they would be friends and instead cost him both legs.

Dubus would spend three painful years undergoing a series of operations, and extensive physical therapy.

Despite his efforts to walk with a prosthesis, chronic infactions confined him to a weelchair for the remainder of his life. Dubus continues to battle the pain imposed by is condition, and with clinical depression. Over the course of these struggles Dubus third wife left him, taking with her their two young daugthers.

Dubus found a deeper religious faith at this time. A practicing Catholic all his life. Dubus found that the loss of his mobility drew him closer to God, and renewed his Catholis faith at a deeper level.

Dubus spent his later years in Haverhill, until his death from a hearth attack in 1999, at age 62. He's buried in Greenwood Cemetery, near where he lived, in Haverhill, MA.

He Married three times, and fathered six children.