Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Easton Press Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings books

The Yearling - Library of Famous Editions - 1992

Franklin Library Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings books

The Yearling - World's Best Loved Books - 1981
The Yearling - Pulitzer Prize Classics - 1984

 

 

Author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, born on August 8, 1896, in Washington, D.C., was an American author best known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Yearling. Her life and works epitomize the spirit of the American South and the complexities of rural life in Florida. Rawlings spent her formative years in the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Washington, D.C., where she developed a love for literature and writing. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she studied writing and journalism. In 1928, Rawlings made a bold decision to leave her comfortable urban life and move to rural Florida, purchasing an orange grove near the small town of Cross Creek. It was here that she found the inspiration for much of her writing, immersing herself in the rhythms of rural life and the unique landscape of the Florida wilderness.

Rawlings's experiences in Cross Creek provided the material for her most famous work, The Yearling, published in 1938. The novel tells the story of a young boy named Jody Baxter and his bond with a pet fawn against the backdrop of the Florida scrubland. The Yearling received widespread critical acclaim and won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1939, cementing Rawlings's reputation as one of America's foremost writers.

Throughout her career, Rawlings wrote numerous other works, including novels, short stories, and non-fiction essays, many of which explored themes of nature, community, and the human condition. Her writing style was characterized by its vivid descriptions, lyrical prose, and deep empathy for her characters. Despite her literary success, Rawlings faced personal struggles and setbacks in her life, including a tumultuous marriage and financial difficulties. However, she remained dedicated to her craft, drawing inspiration from her surroundings and the people she encountered in her rural community. Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings passed away on December 14, 1953, but her legacy as a pioneering female author and chronicler of the American South lives on. Her works continue to be cherished for their evocative portrayal of a bygone era and their timeless exploration of the human spirit in all its complexities. Through her writing, Rawlings captured the essence of the Florida wilderness and left an indelible mark on American literature.