About
Sherwood Anderson, born September 13, 1876, in Camden, Ohio, was a major American writer of the early 20th century. After a difficult childhood, he worked in advertising in Chicago and then ran a paint factory in Ohio while writing. In 1912, he abandoned everything to devote himself to literature. His collection of interconnected short stories, Winesburg, Ohio (1919), revolutionized the American short story with its exploration of alienation in small towns. His style, influenced by Gertrude Stein, influenced Hemingway and Faulkner. He published novels, short stories, poetry, and memoirs, then settled in Virginia where he ran newspapers. He died in 1941 in Panama.
* 1876-09-13 — † 1941-03-08
Major works
- Winesburg, Ohio (1919)short story collection
- Windy McPherson's Son (1916)novel
- Dark Laughter (1925)novel
- A Story Teller's Story (1924)memoir
- Mid-American Chants (1918)poetry
Key milestones
- 1912Abandons his business and family to devote himself to writing in Chicago.
- 1919Publication of Winesburg, Ohio, which revolutionized the American short story.
- 1941Dies in Panama during a trip to South America.
Themes
Alienation in small townsSearch for identityBreak with social conventionsInner life and emotionsModern language and style
Sources: britannica.com · poetryfoundation.org · catdir.loc.gov