James Thurber

1894–1961

1 standalone book

James Thurber was an American cartoonist, author, journalist, and playwright who was born on December 8, 1894, in Columbus, Ohio. He was one of the foremost American humorists of the 20th century, known for his wit and diverse body of work that included short stories, modern commentary, fiction, children's fantasy, and letters. His father, Charles, was a civil clerk, and his mother, Mame, was an eccentric woman who influenced many of his stories. Thurber had two brothers, William and Robert. As a child, he lost the sight in one eye during a game of "William Tell" and eventually became blind in both eyes, but this did not stop him from writing or drawing. He attended Ohio State University from 1913 to 1917 and was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. Due to his eye injury, he was unable to complete a compulsory ROTC course, so he was not allowed to graduate, though he received an honorary degree later. Thurber began his professional writing career as a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch in 1920 and started writing for the New Yorker in 1927. He wrote nearly forty books and won a Tony Award for his Broadway play, A Thurber Carnival. He died on November 2, 1961, from complications of pneumonia.

Born

1894