Sherwood Anderson

Sherwood Anderson was an American writer whose works've been influential in American literature since the early 20th century. He is best known for his short stories, his novel Winesburg, Ohio, and his autobiographical trilogy A Story Teller’s Story.

Anderson was born in Camden, Ohio, on September 13, 1876. He was raised by his mother, Cora, who had moved to the town after the death of her husband, Richard Anderson, in 1866. Although his father had originally intended for his son to follow in his footsteps as a harness maker, Sherwood decided to leave his hometown and pursue a life of writing. To this end he decided to attend college, focusing on literature and language.

Sherwood Anderson's first works were written while he was attending Wittenburg University. After graduating from college, he began to write and publish his stories with the help of his mentor, George Vallery. His early works consisted largely of vignettes or stories about rural or small town life. These stories were heavily influenced by Mark Twain and Nathaniel Hawthorne, two authors whom Anderson greatly admired.

In 1910, Anderson ran a brief but successful printing shop in Elyria, Ohio. It was during this time that he began to write his most famous book, the novel Winesburg, Ohio. The novel takes an in-depth look into small-town life in early 19th-century America. Anderson adeptly captures the sights, sounds, and emotions of the characters in a way that is both realistic and sympathetic. Anderson’s unique style of writing has been cited as a prototype of what is now referred to as “stream of consciousness” writing.

In the 1920s Anderson moved to Chicago and eventually penned his autobiographical trilogy A Story Teller’s Story. Although his works have been criticized for their lack ofplot and focus on internal states, this trilogy is considered to be Anderson's magnum opus. Anderson wrote about his own experiences growing up, showing a keen understanding of the struggles of life and its consequences.

After the success of A Story Teller’s Story, Anderson continued to write until his death in 1941. While he enjoys continued popularity with modern readers, his works remain less known in the larger cannon of literature. This is in part due to Anderson’s unique style of writing, which tends to focus more on character than plot.

Sherwood Anderson was an influential American writer whose works are still relevant today. His short stories, novel Winesburg, Ohio, and autobiographical trilogy A Story Teller’s Story, convey an intimate understanding of the struggles of life and the importance of small town America. His works remain important contributions to 20th century literature and are a testament to the enduring power of Anderson’s writing.