Lester Atwell (1909-April 30, 2001) was a novelist, short-story writer and US veteran from Brooklyn. His most notable works include Private, Love is Just Around the Corner and Life with its Sorrow, Life with its Tear.
Military service[]
At the age of 34 Atwell was drafted to serve in World War II.[1] As an infantryman in the 87th Infantry Division he was active in the European theater, and fought in Ardennes as part of the Battle of the Bulge.[2][3]
Works[]
Atwell's 1958 book Private serves as his personal war diary, and recounts his service in World War II. The work has been described as being "as complete and accurate a picture of men in and awaiting combat as one is likely to find."[2] The work was runner-up for the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1959 in the nonfiction category.[1][4]
Atwell's Love is Just Around the Corner served as the basis for the Broadway musical Flora the Red Menace.[5] His third book Life With Its Sorrow, Life With Its Tear was published in 1971, and his short stories have appeared in publications including The Saturday Evening Post and Collier's.[5]
His last novel The Other Dear Charmer was written at the age of 82.[1]
Death[]
Atwell died peacefully of natural causes at the age of 92 in Cary, North Carolina.[2][5]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Reuben, Shelly (3 May 2012). "Lester Atwell: A fine old gentleman". http://www.evesun.com/news/stories/2012-05-03/14744/Lester-Atwell-A-fine-old-gentleman/. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Lester Atwell; Combat Soldier Published His Diary of WWII". 5 May 2001. http://articles.latimes.com/2001/may/05/local/me-59709. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ↑ Kaidy, Mitch (2 July 2009). "Lester Atwell: Author of World’s First Non-Fiction Novel About Infantry at War". http://87thinfantrydivision.com/mitch-kaidy/lester-atwell-author-of-worlds-first-non-fiction-novel-about-infantry-at-war. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ↑ "The National Book Awards Winners & Finalists, Since 1950". http://www.nationalbook.org/nba_winners_finalists_1950_present.pdf. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Lester Atwell, 92, Writer Influenced by War". May 11, 2001. https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/11/arts/lester-atwell-92-writer-influenced-by-war.html. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
The original article can be found at Lester Atwell and the edit history here.