Writers of the 20 th Century By: Stavan Shukla, Erica Aulogia, Celina Carrero, and Danielle Parisi

James Baldwin Born: 2 August 1924 Born: 2 August 1924 Birthplace: Harlem, New York Birthplace: Harlem, New York Died: 1 December 1987 (died of stomach cancer in St. Paul de Vence, France) Died: 1 December 1987 (died of stomach cancer in St. Paul de Vence, France) His mother, Emma Berdis Jones, stepfather, David Baldwin His mother, Emma Berdis Jones, stepfather, David Baldwin He graduated from high school in 1942 and moved to New Jersey to begin working as a railroad hand. In 1944 he moved to Greenwich Village where he met Richard Wright and began his first novel, In My Father's House. He graduated from high school in 1942 and moved to New Jersey to begin working as a railroad hand. In 1944 he moved to Greenwich Village where he met Richard Wright and began his first novel, In My Father's House. Paris, where he lived in poverty for eight years Paris, where he lived in poverty for eight years After high school he began a restless period of ill-paid jobs, self-study, and literary apprenticeship in New York City. After high school he began a restless period of ill-paid jobs, self-study, and literary apprenticeship in New York City. (one of his most famous quotes): he said that blacks and whites must come to terms with the past and make a future together or face destruction. (one of his most famous quotes): he said that blacks and whites must come to terms with the past and make a future together or face destruction.

James Baldwin Writing GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN (1953), a story of hidden sins, guilt, and religious torments. In this and subsequent works Baldwin fused autobiographical material with analysis of social injustice and prejudices. Several of his novels dealt with homosexual liaisons. GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN (1953), a story of hidden sins, guilt, and religious torments. In this and subsequent works Baldwin fused autobiographical material with analysis of social injustice and prejudices. Several of his novels dealt with homosexual liaisons. In Baldwin's second novel, GIOVANNI'S ROOM (1956), the theme was a man's struggle with his homosexuality. – In Baldwin's second novel, GIOVANNI'S ROOM (1956), the theme was a man's struggle with his homosexuality. –." NOBODY KNOWS MY NAME (1962), a collections of essays, explored among others black- white relations in the U.S., William Faulkner's views on segregation, and Richard Wright's work. Wright had encouraged Baldwin when he was an aspiring writer but they never became close friends." NOBODY KNOWS MY NAME (1962), a collections of essays, explored among others black- white relations in the U.S., William Faulkner's views on segregation, and Richard Wright's work. Wright had encouraged Baldwin when he was an aspiring writer but they never became close friends -TELL ME HOW LONG THE TRAIN'S BEEN GONE (1968) was according to Mario Puzo "a simpleminded, one-dimensional novel with mostly cardboard characters" (The New York Times, June 23, -TELL ME HOW LONG THE TRAIN'S BEEN GONE (1968) was according to Mario Puzo "a simpleminded, one-dimensional novel with mostly cardboard characters" (The New York Times, June 23, -IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (1974) showed Baldwin's artistic renewal in a moving and poetic love story. -IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK (1974) showed Baldwin's artistic renewal in a moving and poetic love story.

Margaret Walker Alexander Margaret Abigail Walker Alexander, born July 6, 1915 and died November 30, 1998 was an African American poet and writer born in Birmingham, Alabama. At the age of nineteen, Walker completed her Bachelor’s of Arts Degree at Northwestern University in Illinois and was associated with many other writing groups. Walker was a member of the West Side Writers Group and was a close colleague of Richard Wright. Walker and Wright together worked on several of his texts and in 1988, she published Richard Wright, Daemonic Genius: A Portrait of a Man, a Critical Look at His Work. Walker completed her master’s degree at the University of Iowa In 1966, she became a professor at Jackson State University and published Jubilee. In 1968, just two years after receiving critical acclaim for Jubilee, she founded the Institute for the Study of the History, Life and Culture of Black People.

Margaret Walker Alexander Writing For My People establishes Walker as a key player in the tradition of American female Activists poets who used their work to champion insignificant groups. Walker also worked on For Farish Street Green in 1986 and This is My Century: New and Collected Poems in Walker also worked on For Farish Street Green in 1986 and This is My Century: New and Collected Poems in In 1966 she published Jubilee, a life story of a daughter slave. During the Great Depression, Walker worked for the Federal Writers’ Project and contributed a dialect piece called “Yalluh Hammuh.” During the Great Depression, Walker worked for the Federal Writers’ Project and contributed a dialect piece called “Yalluh Hammuh.”

Henry Louis Mencken Born: September 12, 1880 in Baltimore, Maryland Born: September 12, 1880 in Baltimore, Maryland He was known as the “Sage of Baltimore” He was known as the “Sage of Baltimore” He was a newspaperman, book reviewer, and political commentator He was a newspaperman, book reviewer, and political commentator Henry became a literary critic for the Baltimore Sun Henry became a literary critic for the Baltimore Sun “Targets” of his writings were Franklin D. Roosevelt and New Deal politics “Targets” of his writings were Franklin D. Roosevelt and New Deal politics He had very controversial ideas on politics and race, and was labeled an anti- Semite by many people. He had very controversial ideas on politics and race, and was labeled an anti- Semite by many people. Died: January 29, 1956 in Baltimore, Maryland Died: January 29, 1956 in Baltimore, Maryland

Henry Louis Mencken Writing Mencken wrote articles, editorials, and essays. He is known for writing The American Language Mencken also was known for his satirical reporting of the Scopes Trial, which he called “The Monkey Trial. He was a magazine editor of The Smart Set and The American Mercury, He also admired Friedrich Nietzsche and he was the first in English to analyze his work. He wrote The Philosophy of Friedrich Nietzsche Henry used a lot of satire in his work and was very critical of fellow literary figures. Richard Wright reads one of Mencken’s work, Prejudice, in his autobiography, Black Boy.

William Faulkner Born: September 25, 1897 in New Albany, Mississippi Born: September 25, 1897 in New Albany, Mississippi Died: July 6, 1962 in Byhalia, Mississippi Died: July 6, 1962 in Byhalia, Mississippi He began to write poetry at the age of 13 He began to write poetry at the age of 13 He wrote his first novel, Soldier’s Pay, in 1925 in New Orleans He wrote his first novel, Soldier’s Pay, in 1925 in New Orleans In the early 1940’s, he became a screenwriter for Howard Hawks’s films in Hollywood In the early 1940’s, he became a screenwriter for Howard Hawks’s films in Hollywood He wrote most of his critically acclaimed novels during the Great Depression He wrote most of his critically acclaimed novels during the Great Depression His work won many awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes and a Nobel Prize in Literature. His work won many awards, including two Pulitzer Prizes and a Nobel Prize in Literature. Faulkner won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949 for “his powerful and artistically unique contribution to the American Novel” Faulkner won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1949 for “his powerful and artistically unique contribution to the American Novel” He often drank while writing and struggled with alcoholism throughout his life He often drank while writing and struggled with alcoholism throughout his life Like Richard Wright, many of Faulkner’s novels dealt with hardships in the South and he was critical of segregation. Like Richard Wright, many of Faulkner’s novels dealt with hardships in the South and he was critical of segregation. William Faulkner is often regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20 th Century William Faulkner is often regarded as one of the most influential writers of the 20 th Century

William Faulkner Writing His first book was THE MARBLE FAUN (1924), a collection of poems. It did not gain success. His first book was THE MARBLE FAUN (1924), a collection of poems. It did not gain success. SOLDIER'S PAY (1926). The novel centered on the return of a soldier, who has been physically and psychologically disabled in WW I. SOLDIER'S PAY (1926). The novel centered on the return of a soldier, who has been physically and psychologically disabled in WW I. ABSALOM, ABSALOM!, generally considered Faulkner's masterpiece. It recods a range of voices and vocabularies, all trying to unravel the mysteries of Thomas Sutpen's violent life. ABSALOM, ABSALOM!, generally considered Faulkner's masterpiece. It recods a range of voices and vocabularies, all trying to unravel the mysteries of Thomas Sutpen's violent life. The Sound and the Fury (1929), his first masterwork, Faulkner gained recognition as a writer. Its title originated from the famous lines in Shakespeare's play Macbeth: The Sound and the Fury (1929), his first masterwork, Faulkner gained recognition as a writer. Its title originated from the famous lines in Shakespeare's play Macbeth: Faulkner wrote As I Lay Dying (1930), about the illness, death, and burial of Addie Bundren. The book consists of interior monologues, most of them spoken by members of the Bundren family. Faulkner wrote As I Lay Dying (1930), about the illness, death, and burial of Addie Bundren. The book consists of interior monologues, most of them spoken by members of the Bundren family. William Faulkner used stream of consciousness writing in many of his books. William Faulkner used stream of consciousness writing in many of his books.

Writers of the 20 th Century All of these writers were very influential in their areas of literature in the 20 th Century. These writers also shared a common theme with Richard Wright. For James Baldwin and Margaret Walker Alexander, Wright was an inspiration. For Henry Louis Mencken and William Faulkner, they were part of his inspiration. However, they all aspired to achieve a place of recognition in their work.