The Most Famous Writer Who Ever Lived

Tom Shroder sets out to uncover the life story of his grandfather, MacKinlay Kantor, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his Civil War novel Andersonville but later faded into obscurity. As a veteran journalist, Shroder applies his investigative skills to piece together Kantor's path from an impoverished Iowa childhood to literary stardom. The book follows parallel tracks: Shroder's research journey through archives, interviews and family records, alongside the reconstruction of Kantor's career trajectory through Hollywood, war correspondence, and the upper echelons of American letters. Through this dual narrative, a complex portrait emerges of a writer whose ambition and talent were matched by his capacity for self-destruction. This biographical work examines universal questions about legacy, family inheritance, and the price of literary success. The relationship between grandfather and grandson provides a framework for exploring how stories shape our understanding of both personal and national history.

Readers note this biography succeeds more as a personal family memoir than as literary scholarship about MacKinlay Kantor. Many appreciate Shroder's honest exploration of his grandfather's complexities - from Pulitzer Prize winner to financial ruin. Reviewers highlight the detailed research and engaging writing style that brings the historical periods to life. Common criticisms include the uneven pacing and that too much focus goes to Shroder's personal journey versus deeper analysis of Kantor's work. Some readers expected more literary critique of Kantor's novels. "More about the author's quest to understand his grandfather than about Kantor himself," notes one Amazon reviewer. Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (88 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (31 reviews) LibraryThing: 3.8/5 (9 ratings) The book garners stronger reviews from readers interested in family history and journalism than from those seeking traditional literary biography.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls A writer investigates her family's complex history, uncovering generations of secrets while piecing together her own identity through memoir.

The Art of Memoir by Mary Karr This craft book examines the intersection of memory, family history, and storytelling through the lens of a memoirist's research process.

Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel Through text and illustrations, a writer unravels her father's hidden life while exploring her own path to becoming a writer.

The Unwinding of the Miracle by Julie Yee A writer faces mortality while documenting her family's past and present, weaving together immigration, identity, and inheritance.

The Lost by Daniel Mendelsohn A writer traces his family's Holocaust history through research, travel, and interviews to reconstruct lives erased by time.

⭐ MacKinlay Kantor, the subject of this biography, won the Pulitzer Prize in 1956 for his Civil War novel "Andersonville," yet fell into relative obscurity by the time of his death in 1977. 🖋️ Author Tom Shroder discovered while writing this book that his grandfather, MacKinlay Kantor, had worked as a war correspondent during World War II and flew bombing missions over Germany. 📚 Despite his later financial troubles, Kantor wrote over 40 books and was so famous in his prime that Ernest Hemingway once angrily threw him out of his home in Cuba after a heated argument. 🎬 Kantor wrote the original story treatment for the classic film "The Best Years of Our Lives," which won seven Academy Awards, but was only paid $35,000 for his contribution. 📖 The book reveals how Kantor fabricated parts of his own history, including stories about his father, and maintained these fictions throughout his life to craft his preferred public image.