Changes

Vonnegut was born to a prominent family in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]].  His eight great-grandparents (father's surname "Funnegut" changed to "Vonnegut"<ref>Vonnegut, Kurt (1981). ''Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage'' (New York:  Dell), p. 24.</ref>) immigrated from Germany to America in the mid-19th century.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', pp. 22-23.</ref> His father's family regarded themselves as [[atheist]]s, Vonnegut styling them "Free Thinkers", one of his ancestors arranging to have his disbelief in life after death expressed at his funeral oration.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 193.</ref>

Vonnegut was born to a prominent family in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]].  His eight great-grandparents (father's surname "Funnegut" changed to "Vonnegut"<ref>Vonnegut, Kurt (1981). ''Palm Sunday: An Autobiographical Collage'' (New York:  Dell), p. 24.</ref>) immigrated from Germany to America in the mid-19th century.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', pp. 22-23.</ref> His father's family regarded themselves as [[atheist]]s, Vonnegut styling them "Free Thinkers", one of his ancestors arranging to have his disbelief in life after death expressed at his funeral oration.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 193.</ref>

His parents' wedding was held as a grand event in Indianapolis, attended by those in the highest social circles there.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 51.</ref> His father was trained as an architect, and Vonnegut recounts he would often tell true stories with what he felt were unusual outcomes that he felt stood on their own merit as worth telling.

His parents' wedding was held as a grand event in Indianapolis, attended by those in the highest social circles there.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 51.</ref> His father was trained as an architect<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 62.</ref>, and Vonnegut recounts he would often tell true stories with what he felt were unusual outcomes that he felt stood on their own merit as worth telling.

Vonnegut was one of three children, his brother Bernard growing up to become an esteemed atmospheric physicist.  Like so many in America when the Great Depression hit, his family suffered from financial insecurity, and when his father brought over a businessman offering a suspicious investment that gave his father hope of regaining that security, the precocious younger Vonnegut questioned the issuer, much to the consternation of his father, but the businessman later ended up cheating many in Indianapolis out of their wealth when his scheme turned out to be fraudulent.

Vonnegut was one of three children, his brother Bernard growing up to become an esteemed atmospheric physicist.  Like so many in America when the Great Depression hit, his family suffered from financial insecurity, and when his father brought over a businessman offering a suspicious investment that gave his father hope of regaining that security, the precocious younger Vonnegut questioned the issuer, much to the consternation of his father, but the businessman later ended up cheating many in Indianapolis out of their wealth when his scheme turned out to be fraudulent.

Vonnegut admitted later in life that, possibly in part due to stress from motherhood and the ordeals involved in the Great Depression that his mother, daughter of a millionaire playboy, would lapse into intense fits of rage and that she eventually committed suicide<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 36.</ref>, her cause of death being publicly covered up.  Vonnegut would struggle with depression himself throughout his life.

Vonnegut admitted later in life that, possibly in part due to stress from motherhood and the ordeals involved in the Great Depression that his mother, daughter of a millionaire playboy, would lapse into intense fits of rage and that she eventually committed suicide<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 36.</ref>, her cause of death being publicly covered up.  Vonnegut would struggle with depression himself throughout his life.

Vonnegut recounted growing up in Indianapolis with a fondness for reading Mark Twain and the kind of pranks often found in his works.  When he was a high school sophomore, his socialist uncle gave him a copy of ''Theory of the Leisure Class'' by [[Thorstein Veblen]], critical of the empty prestige found among wealthy Americans, which he loved.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 59.</ref> This grew into a talent for writing, and when Vonnegut attended [[Cornell University]] he became editor of the ''Cornell Daily Sun''. He failed to receive a Master's degree, however, when his master's thesis was rejected shortly before he was conscripted into the Army during World War II.  Vonnegut pulled a prank during his battalion recruitment muster, however, ensuring he would remain a private for most of the war.

Vonnegut recounted growing up in Indianapolis with a fondness for reading Mark Twain and the kind of pranks often found in his works.  When he was a high school sophomore, his socialist uncle gave him a copy of ''Theory of the Leisure Class'' by [[Thorstein Veblen]], critical of the empty prestige found among wealthy Americans, which he loved.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 59.</ref> This grew into a talent for writing, and when Vonnegut attended [[Cornell University]] he became an editor of the ''Cornell Daily Sun''.<ref>''Palm Sunday'', p. 62.</ref> He failed to receive a Master's degree, however, when his master's thesis was rejected shortly before he was conscripted into the Army during World War II.  Vonnegut pulled a prank during his battalion recruitment muster, however, ensuring he would remain a private for most of the war.

==Service during World War II==

==Service during World War II==