Ernest Hemingway
Ernest Hemingway, born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois, was an illustrious American novelist and journalist whose succinct and impactful prose reshaped 20th-century literature. Raised in a conservative suburb, Hemingway eschewed higher education in favor of hands-on experience, beginning his writing career as a journalist for The Kansas City Star in 1917. His wartime experiences, including serving as an ambulance driver in World War I and witnessing the Spanish Civil War, deeply influenced his literary work.
Hemingway's first significant achievement was the 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises," which captured the disillusionment of the post-WWI generation. He solidified his reputation with classics such as "A Farewell to Arms" (1929), "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1940), and "The Old Man and the Sea" (1952), the latter earning him the Pulitzer Prize in 1953. In 1954, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his mastery of the art of narrative.
Despite his literary success, Hemingway's life was marred by personal struggles, including multiple marriages, alcoholism, and depression. He spent his final years in Ketchum, Idaho, where he tragically ended his life on July 2, 1961. Today, Hemingway remains a towering figure in American literature, known for his adventurous spirit and groundbreaking writing style.