John Cheever - Novelists, Facts and Facts
John Cheever's Personal Details
John Cheever was a novelist and writer counted amongst the most important fiction writers of the 20th century
| Information | Detail |
|---|---|
| Birthday | May 27, 1912 |
| Died on | June 18, 1982 |
| Nationality | American |
| Famous | Bisexual, Writers, Novelists, Short Story Writers, Novelists, Short Story Writers |
| City/State | Massachusetts |
| Spouses | Mary Winternitz |
| Siblings | Fred |
| Known as | John William Cheever |
| Childrens | Benjamin Cheever, Frederico, Susan |
| Universities |
|
| Birth Place | Quincy |
| Gender | Male |
| Father | Frederick Lincoln Cheever |
| Mother | Mary Liley Cheever |
| Sun Sign | Gemini |
| Born in | Quincy |
| Famous as | Novelist & Short Story Writer |
| Died at Age | 70 |
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John Cheever's photo
Who is John Cheever?
John William Cheever was a famous novelist and short story writer who is widely recognized as one of the most important short fiction writers of the 20th century. His writings were mostly set around locations near Manhattan, Massachusetts and Italy. His fictional plots often revolved around the duality of human nature, manifested as inner struggles within a single character or conflicts between two characters who personify different aspects of the human personality. Along with human nature he also explored the theme of nostalgia for a past way of life that is no longer there. Some of his most popular short stories are ‘The Enormous Radio’, ‘Goodbye My Brother’, ‘The Country Husband’, and ‘The Swimmer’. Though he is best remembered for his short fiction writing but he also authored the popular novel ‘The Wapshot Chronicle’ which won the National Book Award. He was born into a rich and prosperous family and enjoyed a comfortable childhood before the Great Depression struck and his father lost his successful business. Things took a turn for the worse and his family life greatly suffered. Young John was expelled from school and he wrote his first published short story: ‘Expelled’. After years of struggle he became an established writer but became victim to alcoholism due to which his personal as well as professional life suffered.
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Childhood & Early Life
He was born as the second child of Frederick Lincoln Cheever and Mary Liley Cheever. His father was a successful shoe salesman and gave his children a comfortable upbringing. However, the business suffered during the Great Depression.
He went to the Thayer Academy in 1926 and transferred to Quincy High in 1928. He returned to Thayer but was expelled in 1930. Cheever wrote a story about his expulsion, titled, ‘Expelled’ which was published in ‘The New Republic’.
His family’s financial woes continued and his parents separated. This was a very difficult and mentally stressful time for him. Later on his parents reconciled and he renewed his relations with them.
Career
He led a nomadic life for sometime, traveling between Manhattan, Saratoga, Lake George and Quincy. He had few material possessions and was a wanderer though he continued to write.
His story ‘Buffalo’ was bought by the ‘The New Yorker’ for $45 in 1935. This was the first of the many stories of his that would be published in the newspaper. Maxim Lieber served as his literary agent from 1935 to 1941.
He began working for the Federal Writers’ Project in Washington D.C. in 1938. He did not like the work there and quit after a year.
During World War II, he enlisted to serve in the army in 1942. During this time he also continued his writings. His first collection of short stories, ‘The Way Some People Live’ was published in 1943. The book received mixed reviews.
He was married and had a family by the time the war ended. After the war he took his family with him to Manhattan. Random House publishing gave him a $ 4, 800 advance to resume work on his novel, ‘The Holly Tree’ in 1946. He had begun working on the novel before the war.
His short story ‘The Enormous Radio’ was published in an issue of ‘The New Yorker’ in May 1947. The tale about a sinister radio that broadcast private conversations between people became very popular.
He began working on a long story called ‘The Day the Pig Fell into the Well’ which was completed in 1949 but was not published until five years later.
His story ‘Goodbye, My Brother’ was completed in 1951. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship the same year. He published a collection of short stories, ‘The Enormous Radio’ in 1953 which received positive reviews.
He finished work on the novel ‘The Wapshot Chronicle’ in 1956. Some years later he wrote ‘The Wapshot Scandal’ in 1964 which received great reviews.
In 1964 his short story ‘The Swimmer’ appeared in the July issue of ‘The New Yorker’. The novel was adapted into a film starring Burt Lancaster in 1966 in which the author made a cameo appearance.
Even though he was gaining popularity, the stress of fame was taking its toll on him. He became a heavy drinker and his marriage suffered because of his personality disorders. He was also tormented by the society for being a bisexual.
His career suffered for a few years though he made his comeback with the novel ‘Falconer’ in 1977. It became a No.1 New York Times Best Seller. His next work, ‘The Stories of John Cheever’ was out in 1978 and went on to become one of his most successful works ever.
Major Works
His short story collection, ‘The Stories of John Cheever’ was his best known work. It had some of his most popular stories including ‘The Enormous Radio’, ‘Goodbye, My Brother’, ‘The Country Husband’ and ‘The Swimmer’. It won several prestigious awards.
Awards & Achievements
His short story collection, ‘The Stories of John Cheever’ won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and a National book Critics Circle Award.
In 1982 he was awarded the National Medal for Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Personal Life & Legacy
He married Mary Winternitz in 1941. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter.
He was an alcoholic and that badly affected his health, personal life and professional career. Later, he joined Smithers Alcoholic Rehabilitation Unit in New York and never drank again.
He was diagnosed with cancer in 1981 and died in 1982 after the disease ravaged his entire body.
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John Cheever's awards
| Year | Name | Award |
|---|---|---|
Other | ||
| 1982 | National Medal for Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters 2009 - National Book Critics Circle Award | |
| 0 | ||
| 1958 | National Book Award (Chronicle) 2009 - Francis Parkman Prize | |
| 0 | 1979 - Pulitzer Prize for Fiction | |
| 0 | - Guggenheim Fellowship | |
| 0 | 1979 - National Book Critics Circle Award | |
John Cheever biography timelines
- // 27th May 1912He was born as the second child of Frederick Lincoln Cheever and Mary Liley Cheever. His father was a successful shoe salesman and gave his children a comfortable upbringing. However, the business suffered during the Great Depression.
- // 1926 To 1930He went to the Thayer Academy in 1926 and transferred to Quincy High in 1928. He returned to Thayer but was expelled in 1930. Cheever wrote a story about his expulsion, titled, ‘Expelled’ which was published in ‘The New Republic’.
- // 1935 To 1941His story ‘Buffalo’ was bought by the ‘The New Yorker’ for $45 in 1935. This was the first of the many stories of his that would be published in the newspaper. Maxim Lieber served as his literary agent from 1935 to 1941.
- // 1938He began working for the Federal Writers’ Project in Washington D.C. in 1938. He did not like the work there and quit after a year.
- // 1941He married Mary Winternitz in 1941. The couple had two children, a son and a daughter.
- // 1942 To 1943During World War II, he enlisted to serve in the army in 1942. During this time he also continued his writings. His first collection of short stories, ‘The Way Some People Live’ was published in 1943. The book received mixed reviews.
- // 1946He was married and had a family by the time the war ended. After the war he took his family with him to Manhattan. Random House publishing gave him a $ 4, 800 advance to resume work on his novel, ‘The Holly Tree’ in 1946. He had begun working on the novel before the war.
- // 1947His short story ‘The Enormous Radio’ was published in an issue of ‘The New Yorker’ in May 1947. The tale about a sinister radio that broadcast private conversations between people became very popular.
- // 1949He began working on a long story called ‘The Day the Pig Fell into the Well’ which was completed in 1949 but was not published until five years later.
- // 1951 To 1953His story ‘Goodbye, My Brother’ was completed in 1951. He was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship the same year. He published a collection of short stories, ‘The Enormous Radio’ in 1953 which received positive reviews.
- // 1956 To 1964He finished work on the novel ‘The Wapshot Chronicle’ in 1956. Some years later he wrote ‘The Wapshot Scandal’ in 1964 which received great reviews.
- // 1964 To 1966In 1964 his short story ‘The Swimmer’ appeared in the July issue of ‘The New Yorker’. The novel was adapted into a film starring Burt Lancaster in 1966 in which the author made a cameo appearance.
- // 1977 To 1978His career suffered for a few years though he made his comeback with the novel ‘Falconer’ in 1977. It became a No.1 New York Times Best Seller. His next work, ‘The Stories of John Cheever’ was out in 1978 and went on to become one of his most successful works ever.
- // 1979His short story collection, ‘The Stories of John Cheever’ won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and a National book Critics Circle Award.
- // 1982In 1982 he was awarded the National Medal for Literature by the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
- // 18th Jun 1982He was diagnosed with cancer in 1981 and died in 1982 after the disease ravaged his entire body.
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John Cheever's FAQ
What is John Cheever birthday?
John Cheever was born at 1912-05-27
When was John Cheever died?
John Cheever was died at 1982-06-18
Where was John Cheever died?
John Cheever was died in Ossining
Which age was John Cheever died?
John Cheever was died at age 70
Where is John Cheever's birth place?
John Cheever was born in Quincy
What is John Cheever nationalities?
John Cheever's nationalities is American
Who is John Cheever spouses?
John Cheever's spouses is Mary Winternitz
Who is John Cheever siblings?
John Cheever's siblings is Fred
Who is John Cheever childrens?
John Cheever's childrens is Benjamin Cheever, Frederico, Susan
What was John Cheever universities?
John Cheever studied at Thayer Academy
Who is John Cheever's father?
John Cheever's father is Frederick Lincoln Cheever
Who is John Cheever's mother?
John Cheever's mother is Mary Liley Cheever
What is John Cheever's sun sign?
John Cheever is Gemini
How famous is John Cheever?
John Cheever is famouse as Novelist & Short Story Writer