MacKinlay Kantor

MacKinlay Kantor was a prominent and influential American author, journalist, and screenwriter. Born in 1904 in Webster City, Iowa, Kantor's passion for writing was encouraged by his mother, who was a journalist herself. He began writing seriously as a teenager and published his first novel at the age of 24. Kantor's work is known for its power, importance, and entertainment value, making him a significant voice in American literature during his time.

Kantor's writing career spanned several decades, and he produced more than 30 novels, many of which were set during the American Civil War. His notable achievements include winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1956 for his novel "Andersonville." In addition to his fiction writing, Kantor was also an accomplished journalist, reporting from London as a war correspondent during World War II and seeing combat during the Korean War as a correspondent.

Kantor's experiences as a war correspondent influenced his writing, and he wrote the screenplay for the film noir "Gun Crazy" (aka Deadly Is the Female) based on his short story published in The Saturday Evening Post. He also allowed his name to be used on a screenplay written by Dalton Trumbo, one of the Hollywood Ten, who had been blacklisted during the HUAC hearings. Kantor passed his payment on to Trumbo to help him survive.

In addition to his journalism and novels, Kantor wrote screenplays and established his own publishing house, publishing several of his works in the 1930s and 1940s. Kantor's impact on American literature is undeniable, and his work continues to be celebrated and studied today. He passed away in 1977 at the age of 73, leaving behind a legacy as a strong and powerful voice in American literature.