James Thurber

James Grover Thurber is known as the American humorist who inherited the mantle from Mark Twain. Born in Ohio in 1894, Thurber had a non-traditional childhood in many ways. His mother was a practical joker and comedian while his father was a quiet clerk. His brother William blinded him accidentally with an arrow, barring Thurber from participating in most sports.

He attended Ohio State University, after which he became a journalist. He soon joined the staff of The New Yorker where we would gain fame as an artist and writer. He teamed up with fellow staff member E.B. White to write a book, Is Sex Necessary? He continued to write, branching out into children's fairy tales and plays, even after completely losing his eyesight. In 1961, he died of a blood clot on the brain.

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--B. Redman