William M. John
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
William M. John | |
|---|---|
| Born | William Mestrezat John 1888 |
| Died | 1962 |
| Alma mater | Princeton University |
William Mestrezat John (1888 – 1962) was an American rancher, short story writer, and novelist.[1][2][3]
John was born in Trinidad, Colorado. He attended Princeton University and graduated in 1910.[4] Among this graduating class, he was one of only six students heralding from west of the Mississippi River.[2]
Career
Later in life, John would return to Colorado, continuing his life as a rancher and farmer. He took up writing, fictionalizing individuals he witnessed in life. Many of his works were set in the fictional Tumbleweed Valley.[1] It is believed that this location may have been based on the "Sunflower Valley" in Las Animas County, Colorado.[2][5]
His first novel, 1929's Seven Women, garnered critical praise from The New York Times.[6][3] The Saturday Review praised the book's overall quality, saying the writing was impressive for a debut novel, but they also criticized the characters for being one dimensional.[7] The Bookman's brief review somewhat contradicts The Saturday Review, suggesting John successfully justified the ruthless characters, giving readers insight into each woman's worldview.[8] The Philadelphia Inquirer, in a critical notice of Every Wise Woman (1931), described Seven Women as "psychologically acute".[9]
Mere months after his debut novel appeared as a best-seller, his short story "Neither Jew nor Greek" won him an O. Henry Award in 1930, tying with W. R. Burnett's short story, "Dressing Up." The two authors shared equally the $500 prize money.[10][11] John's second novel, Every Wise Woman (1931), received criticism from The Saturday Review, which described the novel as blunt, monotonous, and less effective than John's previous book.[12] However, John's novel Mingled Yarn (1933) received praise from The Denver Post, with columnist Caroline Bancroft saying, "[John is] fast becoming that of a first-rate humorist in that homely American tradition of which Mark Twain is its outstanding example."[13][3]
In 1931, John would become an elected officer to the newly formed Colorado Author's League.[14] However, following a non-fatal heart attack, John's writing career effectively concluded in the early 1940s.[3]
Literary works
Novels
Short stories
- "Through Hell," The Century Magazine (September 1926)
- "In the Interests of Light and Learnin'," The Century Magazine (September 1927)
- "Tilly Tells the Story," The Century Magazine (December 1927)
- "Love Germ," The Century Magazine (February 1928)
- "Miss Pansy's Pansies," The Century Magazine (July 1928)
- "Concernin' Names," The Century Magazine (September 1928)
- "That Passeth Understandin'," The Century Magazine (February 1929)
- "Vieve's Man," The Century Magazine (April 1929)
- "Neither Jew Nor Greek," The Century Magazine (August 1929)
- "After All I've Done," Ladies' Home Journal (September 1930)
- "I-and-My," Ladies' Home Journal (April 1931)[18]
- "Emma and Frank," Scribner's Magazine (December 1937)
