William Keepers Maxwell Jr. (1908–2000) was an American editor, novelist, short story writer, essayist, children’s author, and memoirist. He is best known as a fiction editor for The New Yorker magazine. He wrote novels and short stories about small-town, American Midwest life in the early 20th century.
Born in Lincoln, Illinois, Maxwell was educated at the University of Illinois and Harvard. He is best known as an influential fiction editor at The New Yorker 1936–75. He helped develop that magazine’s characteristic styles. He was a confidant to many of the most prominent authors of his day, including Vladimir Nabokov, John O’Hara, J. D. Salinger, John Updike, Sylvia Townsend Warner, and John Cheever.
Maxwell also authored some 20 books, including novels, stories, children’s fantasy, and family history. Although he lived most of his life in New York City, he often fictionalized small-town life in the Midwest. Many of his novels contain autobiographical elements.
Maxwell’s notable novels include They Came like Swallows (1937,) The Folded Leaf (1945,) Time Will Darken It (1948,) The Château (1961,) and So Long, See You Tomorrow (1980.) Maxwell also published several anthologies of short stories, including The Old Man at the Railroad Crossing (1966,) Over by the River (1977,) Billie Dyer (1992,) and All the Days and Nights (1995.)
The University of Illinois at Springfield’s Barbara Burkhardt wrote William Maxwell: A Literary Life (2005.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by William Keepers Maxwell Jr.
Happiness is the light on the water. The water is cold and dark and deep.
—William Keepers Maxwell Jr.
Topics: Happiness
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