Thornton Niven Wilder

Thornton Niven Wilder was born on April 17, 1897, in Madison, Wisconsin. His father's name was Amos Wilder. His father owned and edited a local newspaper. His family life was strict, but nevertheless encouraged religious and intellectual pursuits. Wilder's father was a great influence on his education, he taught the children himself.

In 1906, Wilder's father was appointed as U.S. Consul General in Hong Kong. This first step was just the beginning of Wilder's many travels. Wilder's high school education came from Chinese and German schools, as well as schools in California. After high school Wilder wanted to go to Yale, but his father objected and sent him to Oberlin College. After two years there, he transferred to Yale University, and after a short time in the Coast Artillery in World War I, graduated in 1920. Wilder then went to Rome and studied at the American Academy. Amos called his son back to the states after several months, for he had found him a job teaching French at Lawrenceville School, a well known school in New Jersey.

Wilder wrote while teaching, and published his first book, The Cabala. His first full length play, The Bridge of San Luis Rey, was produced in 1926. It was very popular and won a Pulitzer Prize in 1928. After that, he quit teaching and became a full time writer. He went on a tour in Europe and taught in a couple of places.

During the 1930's, Wilder taught a class on comparative literature at Chicago University. The 1930's were very hard for everyone and Wilder was no different. He published a volume of short stories but it was not very successful. In 1938, things started looking up; he published the play Our Town. He won another Pulitzer Prize for it.

In 1965, Wilder received the first National Medal of Literature, in honor of his important contributions to American literature. Thornton Wilder died on December 7, 1975, in Hamden, Connecticut.