Nathanael West was a great American writer who died in 1940

Nathanael West, American Writer

Nathanael West was a great American writer of the 1930's.

This is a picture of him on a hunting trip in Mexico, believed to be in 1937. He really loved hunting and outdoorsy stuff after several years of being oversteeped in the armpits of first
New York and then LA, where he followed the movie industry as a screenwriter.

West's body of work is small and finely wrought, consisting of two
well-known novellas and a couple of others.

Miss Lonelyhearts, 1933, is a showpiece of a short novel where the characters are so finely drawn as to cut like knives.

His experience in the movie industry gave him the cast for his most famous work, The Day of the Locust, which is better known as a movie.

West is mature reading which reflects the existential questions posed by his generation. No one handled it better. See for yourself and check back soon!!!

copyright (c) etta 2002

Biographical Notes:
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Born Nathan Weinstein, 17 October, 1903, to Russian immigrant parents in New York City (81 Street.)

West was a 1924 graduate of Brown University.

West ran a family hotel in New York City where he provided a congenial atmosphere and meager but sufficient sustenance to other struggling writers, including Dashiel Hammett.

West married Eileen McKenney, sister to Ruth McKenney, author of popular 1930's novel, My Sister Eileen, who said Eileen was struck by West even before she met him, having an "image of him as America's greatest writer."

West's own sister married his Brown University friend,
S.J. Perelman, also a writer.

West and his wife died together in a car wreck on the way home after hearing of the death of his dear friend and mentor,
F. Scott Fitzgerald, in 1940.

Books by Nathanael West:
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The Dream Life of Balso Snell
Miss Lonelyhearts
A Cool Million
The Day of the Locust