Dawn Powell
Dawn Powell
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Dawn Powell was an American novelist, short story writer, and essayist. Born on August 7, 1896, in Mount Gilead, Ohio, Powell's literary output would come to be associated with the Midwest and its inhabitants.
Birth and Death Dates
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Powell passed away on November 8, 1965 in New York City at the age of 69.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Dawn Powell was an American writer who made a name for herself as a novelist, but her contributions to literature also included short stories and essays. Her work explored themes relevant to her time, delving into social issues like poverty and inequality.
Early Life and Background
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Born in Mount Gilead, Ohio, Dawn Powell's childhood was marked by the struggles of farm life. With limited access to formal education, Powell's self-education through reading provided a foundation for her future writing endeavors. After moving to Cleveland at age 17, she attended college, eventually dropping out but continuing to write.
Major Accomplishments
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Powell's literary career spanned several decades and saw the publication of numerous novels. Her work garnered critical acclaim, earning praise from notable authors like Ernest Hemingway and E.B. White. Key contributions include her novel _The Locusts Have No King_ (1949), a fictionalized account of small-town American life.
Notable Works or Actions
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Powell's writing often tackled the lives and struggles of ordinary people, drawing inspiration from her own experiences. _My Home Is Far Away_ (1961) explored themes of family dynamics, while _The Golden Spur_ (1932) delved into historical fiction. Her essays, collected in volumes like _Up Norwood_ (1955), demonstrated Powell's skill as a writer and observer.
Impact and Legacy
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Powell's work has maintained its relevance despite its initial reception often being met with mixed reviews. The 1990s saw a revival of interest in her writing, with many critics praising the candid portrayal of American life in the early 20th century. Her novels are now recognized for their literary merit and historical significance.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Dawn Powell's legacy is built on her nuanced portrayals of small-town America during a transformative period in U.S. history. Through her writing, she gave voice to the lives of ordinary people, shedding light on issues like poverty and inequality. As such, her work remains widely quoted and remembered for its insight into American culture and society.
Quotes by Dawn Powell
That’s the way people were. Nobody believed in the things you believed but yourself, nobody believed that even you were really sincere about it, people believed whatever was good business for them at the time. Nobody believed in anything but good business.
She would like to be on a train named Nightfall going to some place where she’d be twenty-five years old.
That’s why I ca never be happy with simple, good people”, she thought. “It isn’t enough to be honest and good-to be happy they must pretend. They really must!
How serious is it to cut out that little section behind the brow that separates what a Nice Girl Sees and Hears from What Really Happens.
Oh, of course, it was a sad role, the lover no longer loving. But once the perfunctory sympathy was given him the heart went outfully to oneself, the real victim, the unloved.
What were you to do when you didn’t know anyone who could help you, no one who could explain the way to the things you wanted- what could you do- you couldn’t just take a spade, a few bricks, and a gerenium and see what happened. You had to be rich, you had to be educated; you had to be powerful to stop contagious ugliness from spreading.