Damon Runyon – författare

Damon Runyon was born Alfred Damon Runyan on October 4th, 1880, in Manhattan, Kansas. When Runyon was two his father was forced to sell his newspaper, and the family moved further west, eventually settling in Pueblo, Colorado in 1887, where Runyon spent the rest of his youth. By most accounts, he attended school only through the fourth grade and then, seeking a career, moved into the newspaper trade working for his father. In 1898, still a teenager, Runyon sought to broaden his horizons and enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in the Spanish–American War. After his service he returned to Colorado and worked for several local newspapers. Runyon’s expertise was covering the semi-professional teams in Colorado; for a man who would become indelibly linked to sports he endured a notable failure in an attempt to organize a Colorado minor baseball league. It lasted less than a week. In 1910 Runyon moved to New York City to work for the William Randolph Hearst newspaper chain, writing a daily column in The New York American. Here, in his first New York byline, his name was changed once more. The editor decided to drop the "Alfred" and run with the soon to be famous moniker “Damon Runyon." Promoted to be the Hearst newspapers'' baseball columnist he developed his trademark knack of spotting the eccentric and the unusual, on the field or in the stands, and Runyon generally re-wrote and revolutionized the way baseball was covered in newspapers and shared this style with its adoring millions of fans. But Runyon was more than a great sports writer. His plays and essays became legendary ways of looking that bit differently at America, of soaking up the atmosphere of a glamorous and rip-roaring age and distilling it into black and white type. Of course, the cliché about newspapermen and writers is that they are heavy drinkers, chain-smokers, gamblers and obsessively chase women with a sideline in gathering info and actually getting something written just before the deadline hits. And, that pretty much was Runyon’s life. In 1938, Runyon developed throat cancer which eventually would leave him unable to speak but not unable to work, which he continued to do so at a ferocious pace. From 1939 to 1943, Runyon pursued a Hollywood career as a writer and producer at MGM, Universal and RKO studios. The work continued to follow from Runyon’s pen. Not only some fabulous short stories in his famous "Runyonesque" filled with characters as funny and gritty as anything that could be written but classic books that would endure long after he was gone. Guys & Dolls being merely one; a book, a film, a musical. Alfred Damon Runyon died in New York City on December 10th, 1946 from throat cancer, at age 66.

Damon Runyon was born Alfred Damon Runyan on October 4th, 1880, in Manhattan, Kansas. When Runyon was two his father was forced to sell his newspaper, and the family moved further west, eventually settling in Pueblo, Colorado in 1887, where Runyon spent the rest of his youth. By most accounts, he attended school only through the fourth grade and then, seeking a career, moved into the newspaper trade working for his father. In 1898, still a teenager, Runyon sought to broaden his horizons and enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in the Spanish–American War. After his service he returned to Colorado and worked for several local newspapers. Runyon’s expertise was covering the semi-professional teams in Colorado; for a man who would become indelibly linked to sports he endured a notable failure in an attempt to organize a Colorado minor baseball league. It lasted less than a week. In 1910 Runyon moved to New York City to work for the William Randolph Hearst newspaper chain, writing a daily column in The New York American. Here, in his first New York byline, his name was changed once more. The editor decided to drop the "Alfred" and run with the soon to be famous moniker “Damon Runyon." Promoted to be the Hearst newspapers'' baseball columnist he developed his trademark knack of spotting the eccentric and the unusual, on the field or in the stands, and Runyon generally re-wrote and revolutionized the way baseball was covered in newspapers and shared this style with its adoring millions of fans. But Runyon was more than a great sports writer. His plays and essays became legendary ways of looking that bit differently at America, of soaking up the atmosphere of a glamorous and rip-roaring age and distilling it into black and white type. Of course, the cliché about newspapermen and writers is that they are heavy drinkers, chain-smokers, gamblers and obsessively chase women with a sideline in gathering info and actually getting something written just before the deadline hits. And, that pretty much was Runyon’s life. In 1938, Runyon developed throat cancer which eventually would leave him unable to speak but not unable to work, which he continued to do so at a ferocious pace. From 1939 to 1943, Runyon pursued a Hollywood career as a writer and producer at MGM, Universal and RKO studios. The work continued to follow from Runyon’s pen. Not only some fabulous short stories in his famous "Runyonesque" filled with characters as funny and gritty as anything that could be written but classic books that would endure long after he was gone. Guys & Dolls being merely one; a book, a film, a musical. Alfred Damon Runyon died in New York City on December 10th, 1946 from throat cancer, at age 66.

Damon Runyon was born Alfred Damon Runyan on October 4th, 1880, in Manhattan, Kansas. When Runyon was two his father was forced to sell his newspaper, and the family moved further west, eventually settling in Pueblo, Colorado in 1887, where Runyon spent the rest of his youth. By most accounts, he attended school only through the fourth grade and then, seeking a career, moved into the newspaper trade working for his father. In 1898, still a teenager, Runyon sought to broaden his horizons and enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in the Spanish–American War. After his service he returned to Colorado and worked for several local newspapers. Runyon’s expertise was covering the semi-professional teams in Colorado; for a man who would become indelibly linked to sports he endured a notable failure in an attempt to organize a Colorado minor baseball league. It lasted less than a week. In 1910 Runyon moved to New York City to work for the William Randolph Hearst newspaper chain, writing a daily column in The New York American. Here, in his first New York byline, his name was changed once more. The editor decided to drop the "Alfred" and run with the soon to be famous moniker “Damon Runyon." Promoted to be the Hearst newspapers'' baseball columnist he developed his trademark knack of spotting the eccentric and the unusual, on the field or in the stands, and Runyon generally re-wrote and revolutionized the way baseball was covered in newspapers and shared this style with its adoring millions of fans. But Runyon was more than a great sports writer. His plays and essays became legendary ways of looking that bit differently at America, of soaking up the atmosphere of a glamorous and rip-roaring age and distilling it into black and white type. Of course, the cliché about newspapermen and writers is that they are heavy drinkers, chain-smokers, gamblers and obsessively chase women with a sideline in gathering info and actually getting something written just before the deadline hits. And, that pretty much was Runyon’s life. In 1938, Runyon developed throat cancer which eventually would leave him unable to speak but not unable to work, which he continued to do so at a ferocious pace. From 1939 to 1943, Runyon pursued a Hollywood career as a writer and producer at MGM, Universal and RKO studios. The work continued to follow from Runyon’s pen. Not only some fabulous short stories in his famous "Runyonesque" filled with characters as funny and gritty as anything that could be written but classic books that would endure long after he was gone. Guys & Dolls being merely one; a book, a film, a musical. Alfred Damon Runyon died in New York City on December 10th, 1946 from throat cancer, at age 66.

Damon Runyon was born Alfred Damon Runyan on October 4th, 1880, in Manhattan, Kansas. When Runyon was two his father was forced to sell his newspaper, and the family moved further west, eventually settling in Pueblo, Colorado in 1887, where Runyon spent the rest of his youth. By most accounts, he attended school only through the fourth grade and then, seeking a career, moved into the newspaper trade working for his father. In 1898, still a teenager, Runyon sought to broaden his horizons and enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in the Spanish–American War. After his service he returned to Colorado and worked for several local newspapers. Runyon’s expertise was covering the semi-professional teams in Colorado; for a man who would become indelibly linked to sports he endured a notable failure in an attempt to organize a Colorado minor baseball league. It lasted less than a week. In 1910 Runyon moved to New York City to work for the William Randolph Hearst newspaper chain, writing a daily column in The New York American. Here, in his first New York byline, his name was changed once more. The editor decided to drop the "Alfred" and run with the soon to be famous moniker “Damon Runyon." Promoted to be the Hearst newspapers'' baseball columnist he developed his trademark knack of spotting the eccentric and the unusual, on the field or in the stands, and Runyon generally re-wrote and revolutionized the way baseball was covered in newspapers and shared this style with its adoring millions of fans. But Runyon was more than a great sports writer. His plays and essays became legendary ways of looking that bit differently at America, of soaking up the atmosphere of a glamorous and rip-roaring age and distilling it into black and white type. Of course, the cliché about newspapermen and writers is that they are heavy drinkers, chain-smokers, gamblers and obsessively chase women with a sideline in gathering info and actually getting something written just before the deadline hits. And, that pretty much was Runyon’s life. In 1938, Runyon developed throat cancer which eventually would leave him unable to speak but not unable to work, which he continued to do so at a ferocious pace. From 1939 to 1943, Runyon pursued a Hollywood career as a writer and producer at MGM, Universal and RKO studios. The work continued to follow from Runyon’s pen. Not only some fabulous short stories in his famous "Runyonesque" filled with characters as funny and gritty as anything that could be written but classic books that would endure long after he was gone. Guys & Dolls being merely one; a book, a film, a musical. Alfred Damon Runyon died in New York City on December 10th, 1946 from throat cancer, at age 66.

Damon Runyon was born Alfred Damon Runyan on October 4th, 1880, in Manhattan, Kansas. When Runyon was two his father was forced to sell his newspaper, and the family moved further west, eventually settling in Pueblo, Colorado in 1887, where Runyon spent the rest of his youth. By most accounts, he attended school only through the fourth grade and then, seeking a career, moved into the newspaper trade working for his father. In 1898, still a teenager, Runyon sought to broaden his horizons and enlisted in the U.S. Army to fight in the Spanish–American War. After his service he returned to Colorado and worked for several local newspapers. Runyon’s expertise was covering the semi-professional teams in Colorado; for a man who would become indelibly linked to sports he endured a notable failure in an attempt to organize a Colorado minor baseball league. It lasted less than a week. In 1910 Runyon moved to New York City to work for the William Randolph Hearst newspaper chain, writing a daily column in The New York American. Here, in his first New York byline, his name was changed once more. The editor decided to drop the "Alfred" and run with the soon to be famous moniker “Damon Runyon." Promoted to be the Hearst newspapers'' baseball columnist he developed his trademark knack of spotting the eccentric and the unusual, on the field or in the stands, and Runyon generally re-wrote and revolutionized the way baseball was covered in newspapers and shared this style with its adoring millions of fans. But Runyon was more than a great sports writer. His plays and essays became legendary ways of looking that bit differently at America, of soaking up the atmosphere of a glamorous and rip-roaring age and distilling it into black and white type. Of course, the cliché about newspapermen and writers is that they are heavy drinkers, chain-smokers, gamblers and obsessively chase women with a sideline in gathering info and actually getting something written just before the deadline hits. And, that pretty much was Runyon’s life. In 1938, Runyon developed throat cancer which eventually would leave him unable to speak but not unable to work, which he continued to do so at a ferocious pace. From 1939 to 1943, Runyon pursued a Hollywood career as a writer and producer at MGM, Universal and RKO studios. The work continued to follow from Runyon’s pen. Not only some fabulous short stories in his famous "Runyonesque" filled with characters as funny and gritty as anything that could be written but classic books that would endure long after he was gone. Guys & Dolls being merely one; a book, a film, a musical. Alfred Damon Runyon died in New York City on December 10th, 1946 from throat cancer, at age 66.

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.

In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author?

The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature.

Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.

A new century dawns, one in which America would become pre-eminent as its industrial might and military power rose above all others. In literature too its authors tackled new forms and new ideas, they shied away from little, immersing themselves and their readers in the promise of a new Century.

Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere.

In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author?

The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature.

Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something.

The plains of the American Mid-West are home to some very fine exponents of the literary craft. Throughout this vast landscape stories seem to be everywhere offering their experiences as works just awaiting the final touches and flourishes of these famed authors. They deliver in very talented ways.

The Land of the Free, the Home of the Brave. This illustrious phrase encapsulates the aspirations of America and its people.

In this volume we feature 50 American poets beginning with the Colonist Anne Bradstreet in the 17th century, when American poetry was entirely rooted in its parental British forms. From here our classic poets take us through Centuries of history, through Independence and expansion Westward, across the cities and vast landscapes of their words. Along the journey we also meet the Imagists, the poets from the Harlem Renaissance by way of the Transcendentalists and the Fireside Poets.

The giants of the poetic way loom large; Walt Whitman. Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, Paul Laurence Dunbar and Edna St Vincent Millay. Our rambling poetic stroll gives voice to the nation’s hopes, its dreams, its failings, its musings.

We cannot hope to define America but we do provide the many changing moods and flavours of the times as we discover the essence of its soul.