Last Updated: 09 Apr, 2023 | Views: 315
Age: 78
Profession: Writer
Other Profession(s): NoveList, Playwright
Famous For: The Bridge of San Luis Rey
Higher Education: Graduated
About (Profile/Biography)
Thornton Wilder was an American playwright and novelist best known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning play "Our Town." Born in 1897, Wilder was a prolific writer who produced numerous plays, novels, and essays throughout his career. His work explored themes of human connection, mortality, and the search for meaning in life.
Thornton Wilder Early Life and Education
Thornton Wilder was born in 1897, in Wisconsin. Wilder attended Oberlin College, where he studied Greek and Latin literature. He later went on to earn a Master's degree in French literature from Princeton University.
Thornton Wilder Career as a Writer
Wilder began his career as a writer in the 1920s, while working as a teacher and translator.
He wrote his first novel, "The Cabala," in 1926.
His book, "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and established Wilder as a major literary figure.
Thornton Wilder Success as a Playwright
While Wilder continued to write novels and essays throughout his career, he is best known for his plays. His most famous work, "Our Town," premiered in 1938 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1939. The play tells the story of life in a small New England town, and explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.
Wilder's other notable plays include "The Skin of Our Teeth" and "The Matchmaker," which later served as the basis for the hit musical "Hello, Dolly!"
Thornton Wilder Legacy
Thornton Wilder's work has had a lasting impact on American literature and theater. His plays are regularly performed around the world, and continue to inspire new generations of theater-goers. Wilder's exploration of the human condition and the search for meaning in life continues to resonate with readers and audiences today. He died in 1975 at the age of 78, but his legacy lives on through his writing and his influence on American culture.