Newbery Medal (John Newbery Medal)
1 appearances
-
Edition 1 (1922) Nominee
William Alvin Bowen
ウィリアム・アルヴィン・ボーウェン
William Bowen
Profile
- Gender
- Male
- Born
- 1877-05-15 （Baltimore, Maryland, United States）
- Died
- 1937-09-18 （California, United States） age 60
- Nationality
- United States
- Languages
- English
- Residence History
- Baltimore, Maryland (birth and early life) → Los Angeles, California (moved in 1904)
Career
- Occupations
- Writer, Attorney
- Active Years
- 1898-1937
- Affiliations
- California Historical Society, Southern California Historical Society, 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Committee (as attorney)
Education
| Institution | Faculty | Department | Degree | Period | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Maryland | — | Law | LL.B. | 1894–1898 | United States |
University of Maryland
Law
Degree:
LL.B.
Period:
1894–1898
Year of Graduation:
1898
Country:
United States
Earned a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
Awards
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Organization | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | Newbery Honor | The Old Tobacco Shop | — | American Library Association | Honor (runner-up) |
Newbery Honor
1922
Work:
The Old Tobacco Shop
Organization:
American Library Association
Result:
Honor (runner-up)
Awards & Nominations
Works
Major Works
The Enchanted Forest
1920 Children's literature, FantasyA children's fantasy following young protagonists who encounter strange and magical events in an enchanted forest.
AdventureMagicComing-of-age
The Old Tobacco Shop: A True Account of What Befell a Little Boy in Search of Adventure
1921 Children's literature, FantasyA curious boy becomes embroiled in a peculiar adventure centered on an old tobacco shop. It was named a Newbery Honor book in 1922.
AdventureFantasyFriendship
Solario the Tailor: His Tales of the Magic Doublet
1922 Children's literature, FantasyA sequel to The Enchanted Forest, a collection of tales revolving around a magic doublet and allegorical adventures.
MagicAllegoryGrowth
Merrimeg
1923 Children's literatureA 1923 children's book noted for its humorous and imaginative storytelling.
ImaginationHumor
Philip and the Faun
1926 Children's literature, FantasyA 1920s children's fantasy about a boy and a faun, exploring mythic friendship and wonder.
MythFriendshipAdventure
Gossip from the Sixteenth Century
1938 Historical essaysPublished by The Zamorano Club in 1938, a collection of historical essays released posthumously.
HistoryEssays
Bibliography
- The Enchanted Forest (1920)
- The Old Tobacco Shop (1921)
- Solario the Tailor (1922)
- Merrimeg (1923)
- Philip and the Faun (1926)
- Gossip from the Sixteenth Century (1938)
Style & Themes
- Literary Style
- Fairy-tale-like, whimsical narrationLight humor combined with somewhat archaic diction
- Recurring Motifs
- Boundary between magic and realityAdventure and returnFriendship and innocence
Legacy
William Bowen is known as an attorney-turned-writer who produced several whimsical children's fantasies in the 1920s. His The Old Tobacco Shop earned a Newbery Honor, leaving a modest but lasting mark in children's literature. Many of his works are held in libraries and archives and have entered the public domain, appearing on Project Gutenberg and LibriVox.
Academic Societies
- California Historical Society
- Southern California Historical Society
Archives
- Library of Congress catalog entries
- Works collection at Project Gutenberg
- Public domain audiobooks at LibriVox
Trivia
- He was professionally an attorney and wrote several whimsical children's books in the 1920s.
- The Old Tobacco Shop received a Newbery Honor in 1922.
- Served as an attorney for the 1932 Los Angeles Olympic Committee.