Who Was E.B. White? by Gail Herman

 Who Was…? biography series for middle grade fascinates with the story of E.B. White – a beloved American writer who wrote Stewart Little, Charlotte’s Web and The Trumpet of the Swan among other famous stories.

Elwyn Brooks White (1899-1985) was born in Mount Vernon, New York. He didn’t like his name so he went by Andy. They lived in the suburbs, half an hour from NYC. He liked having both worlds. But his siblings were older and he had no one to play with. So he filled his time with playing outdoors, and with animals. He used his imagination to engage him.

As a child, he had a tendency to worry, and lacked confidence. He was smart but he didn’t like school. He was afraid to read in front of everyone. Writing helped him through his school years. At Cornell University, he started to work on the school’s newspaper. He wrote news stories, poems, and humor pieces.

After college, he wasn’t sure what career to pick. He just knew that he liked writing. So in 1922, he took a road trip with his college friend. He hoped that by seeing different places it would give him ideas what to write about. After 18 months, he returned and wrote about his adventures for a magazine.

In 1925, he came across The New Yorker and liked it right away. Andy sent in samples of his articles and was recognized right away. People liked his articles about his funny misfortunes. He never took himself too seriously.

In 1929, he married Katherine Sergeant Angell who was the fiction editor at The New Yorker.

In 1933, they bought a farm in Maine.

With the rise of dictatorship in Europe, he started writing more political pieces, standing up for democracy.

Throughout his life he struggled with worry and depression. He took a few months off staying alone in Maine while Katherine was in NYC with children. He wanted to stay close to nature.

In 1937, he began to write a column for Harper’s Magazine. He continued to voice his opinion in regards to events in Europe. He stood up for freedom and wanted the US to join the war.

The family returned to NYC in 1943, and they both returned working for The New Yorker.

Meanwhile, he continued to struggle with some nervous break-down in 1943. He saw many doctors and eventually felt better.

He was afraid that he’d ran out of time with the story he began in 1926 – about the little mouse – Stewart. It was previously rejected. Now, another editor couldn’t understand how a mouse could be a part of a human family. Andy had faith in children and persisted. Stuart Little was published in October 1945. And he was right. Children loved it.

He continued to be outspoken about certain issues – environment, civil rights, democracy, and freedom – which are as important today as they were decades ago. A new collection of his political writings was published in 2019.

Meanwhile, he also continued to spin the stories with animals. In the late 1940s, it was about a spider. He studied spiders for a year. In 1953, Charlotte’s Web won a Newbery Honor, a top award in children’s books. It became the most popular book in children’s literature – ever.

In 1957, they moved back to Maine.

In 1970, Trumpeter Swan was published and became another best seller.

This biography illustrates a man who had tendency to worry and lacked confidence, but that actually led him to a space where he felt most comfortable - in nature and with animals. And that’s where he found his calling. He connected his love for writing with his observation of animals and span stories loved by both children and adults.

This illustrated biography for young readers, ages 8-12, is presented in a relatable way, with simple sentences, and insightful inserts.

Source: Penguin Workshop, 2022

 

 

 

TRENDING INSPIRATION: “Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.” – E.B. White

 

 

 

Traits:

·         As a child, he had a tendency to worry, lacked confidence, was afraid to read in front of everyone - writing helped him through his school years.

·         While at University, he used his time wisely as he worked on the school’s newspaper: writing news stories, poems, and humor pieces.

·         After college, he wasn’t sure what career to pick. He just knew that he liked writing. So he took a road trip with his college friend. Seeing different places gave him ideas what to write about. When he returned, he wrote about his adventures for a magazine.

·         People liked his articles about his funny misfortunes. He never took himself too seriously.

·         Throughout his life he struggled with worry and depression but he recognized that nature brought him solace.

·         He wasn’t afraid to stand up for democracy when dictatorship was on a rise in Europe.

·         His story about the little mouse – Stewart was previously rejected but he had faith in children and persisted. When it was published, it became a beloved story by all.

·         Before he wrote a story about a spider, he studied spiders for a year. Charlotte’s Web became the most popular book in children’s literature – ever.

·         When Trumpeter Swan was published, it became another best seller.

 

 

 

“I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world.” – E.B. White

FURTHER INSPIRATION AND RECOMMENDATION:

 

As E.B. White was torn with making decisions sometimes, it happens to all of us. The good thing is that there are many tools out there these days to give us guidance how to make better decisions by knowing ourselves better. Thus, not depleting or blocking our energies. When energy is blocked, then different issues appear.  

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