Pulitzer Prize for Drama
1 appearances
-
Edition 15 (1933) Winner
Maxwell Anderson
ジェームズ・マクスウェル・アンダーソン
James Maxwell Anderson
Pen Names:
John Nairne Michaelson（Pseudonym used for some autobiographical or potentially sensitive works）
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1888-12-15 （Atlantic, Pennsylvania, U.S.）
- Died
- 1959-02-28 （Stamford, Connecticut, U.S.） age 70
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Religion
- Atheism
- Residence History
- Atlantic (grandmother's farm) → Andover, Ohio → Richmond Center, Ohio → Townville, Pennsylvania → Edinboro, Pennsylvania → McKeesport, Pennsylvania → New Brighton, Pennsylvania → Harrisburg, Pennsylvania → Jamestown, North Dakota (school years) → Palo Alto/ New York/ Connecticut (adulthood)
Career
- Occupations
- playwright, poet, author, journalist, lyricist
- Active Years
- 1911-1959
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of North Dakota | College of Arts and Sciences (English Literature) | Department of English | BA | 在学 ~1908–1911 | United States |
| Stanford University | Graduate School (English Literature) | Department of English | MA | 在学 ~1913–1914 | United States |
University of North Dakota
College of Arts and Sciences (English Literature)
/ Department of English
Degree:
BA
Period:
在学 ~1908–1911
Year of Graduation:
1911
Country:
United States
Undergraduate degree in English literature
Stanford University
Graduate School (English Literature)
/ Department of English
Degree:
MA
Period:
在学 ~1913–1914
Year of Graduation:
1914
Country:
United States
Completed master's degree; subsequently worked as teacher and journalist
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Pulitzer Prize for Drama | Both Your Houses | — | Columbia University / Pulitzer Prize administration | 受賞 |
| 1935 | New York Drama Critics' Circle Award | Winterset | — | New York Drama Critics' Circle | 受賞 |
| 1937 | New York Drama Critics' Circle Award | High Tor | — | New York Drama Critics' Circle | 受賞 |
| 1954 | Gold Medal in Drama (National Institute of Arts and Letters) | — | — | National Institute of Arts and Letters | 受賞（名誉） |
| 1946 | Honorary Doctor of Literature (Columbia University) | — | — | Columbia University | 授与（名誉学位） |
| 1958 | Honorary Doctor of Humanities (University of North Dakota) | — | — | University of North Dakota | 授与（名誉学位） |
Pulitzer Prize for Drama
1933
Work:
Both Your Houses
Organization:
Columbia University / Pulitzer Prize administration
Result:
受賞
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award
1935
Work:
Winterset
Organization:
New York Drama Critics' Circle
Result:
受賞
New York Drama Critics' Circle Award
1937
Work:
High Tor
Organization:
New York Drama Critics' Circle
Result:
受賞
Gold Medal in Drama (National Institute of Arts and Letters)
1954
Organization:
National Institute of Arts and Letters
Result:
受賞（名誉）
Honorary Doctor of Literature (Columbia University)
1946
Organization:
Columbia University
Result:
授与（名誉学位）
Honorary Doctor of Humanities (University of North Dakota)
1958
Organization:
University of North Dakota
Result:
授与（名誉学位）
Awards & Nominations
American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal (Drama)
1 appearances
-
Edition 5 (1954) Winner
Works
Major Works
What Price Glory?
1924 war drama / comedy-dramaA World War I play blending humor and drama; co-written with Laurence Stallings.
warfriendshipsoldiers' lives
Adaptations
- [film] What Price Glory? (1926 film) (1926)
- [film (adaptation)] What Price Glory? (1952 film) (1952)
Both Your Houses
1933 political dramaA drama about political corruption in America; winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
politicscorruptionethics
Winterset
1935 tragedy / courtroom dramaA play dealing with revenge and justice; recipient of the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award.
revengejusticefamily influence
Adaptations
- [film] Winterset (1936 film) (1936)
Anne of the Thousand Days
1948 historical drama (verse)A historical drama about Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn; a Broadway hit later adapted into a film.
monarchylove and betrayalfate
Adaptations
- [film] Anne of the Thousand Days (1969 film) (1969)
Lost in the Stars
1949 musical (book and lyrics)A musical based on Alan Paton's Cry, The Beloved Country; music by Kurt Weill, book and lyrics by Anderson.
race relationsforgivenesssocial justice
The Bad Seed
1954 psychological drama / thriller (play)Adaptation of William March's novel; successful on stage and adapted into film.
good vs evilinheritanceparent-child relationship
Adaptations
- [film] The Bad Seed (1956 film) (1956)
Bibliography
- White Desert (1923)
- What Price Glory? (1924)
- Saturday's Children (1927)
- Both Your Houses (1933)
- Winterset (1935)
- Mary of Scotland (1933)
- Anne of the Thousand Days (1948)
- Lost in the Stars (1949)
- The Bad Seed (1954)
Adaptations
- Many plays adapted for film and television (e.g. Joan of Lorraine→Joan of Arc; The Bad Seed).
Translations of Works
- Several stage works such as Lost in the Stars have been translated and performed in multiple languages.
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- dramatic, lyrical style making frequent use of blank verserealistic dialogue addressing political and moral themes
- Recurring Motifs
- historic figures and events dramatizedconflict between politics and moralityfamily and revenge
Health
-
Chronic childhood illness少年期Frequent school absences; spent time reading and developing literary interests
-
Spanish flu (influenza)1918頃Contracted while working at a newspaper; contributed to job loss due to absence
-
stroke (fatal)1959年2月Suffered a stroke and died in 1959
Legacy
Maxwell Anderson was an influential early- to mid-20th-century American playwright known for his use of blank verse, historical plays, and political dramas. His papers and manuscripts are primarily housed at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
Museums
- Harry Ransom Center (primary collection) University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, United States
Academic Societies
- National Institute of Arts and Letters
Archives
- Maxwell Anderson papers at the Harry Ransom Center (University of Texas at Austin) — largest collection
- Chester Fritz Library (University of North Dakota) holds smaller collections
- New York Public Library for the Performing Arts — smaller collections
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — smaller collections
- Columbia University Rare Book & Manuscript Library — finding aid and related materials
In Popular Culture
- "September Song" (from Knickerbocker Holiday) became a standard and has been widely covered.
- Several plays were adapted for film and television, bringing his work to broader audiences.
Quotes
-
Children of dust astray among the stars Children of earth adrift upon the night What is there in our darkness or our light To linger in prose or claim a singing breath Save the curt history of life isled in death
Source: Inscription on his tombstone (citation not provided)
Trivia
- Used the pen name John Nairne Michaelson for some works.
- Collaborated with Kurt Weill on musicals such as Knickerbocker Holiday and Lost in the Stars (book and lyrics).
- Was commissioned by Alfred Hitchcock to write a screenplay related to Vertigo, but it was ultimately rejected.
- Many of his late papers and personal effects are held at the Harry Ransom Center.