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John Henry Roark Bradford: The Man Behind the Novel and Play

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John Henry: Roark Bradford's Novel and Play

by Roark Bradford

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Language	:	English
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John Henry Roark Bradford was an American author and playwright who wrote the novel and play "O Pioneers!" The novel was published in 1913 and the play was produced in 1919. Both works are set in Nebraska and tell the story of Alexandra Bergson, a Swedish immigrant who becomes a successful farmer.

Early Life and Career

John Henry Roark Bradford was born in Marion, Indiana, on January 28, 1859. He was the son of John Bradford, a lawyer, and Elizabeth Roark Bradford. Bradford's father died when he was young, and his mother remarried to a farmer named William Johnson. Bradford grew up on Johnson's farm in Nebraska, and he developed a deep love for the land.

Bradford attended the University of Nebraska for two years, but he did not graduate. He left school to work on his stepfather's farm, and he eventually became a successful farmer himself. In 1886, Bradford married Caroline Cady, and they had three children.

Bradford began writing in his spare time, and he published his first novel, "The Daughters of the Soil," in 1903. The novel was a critical and commercial success, and it established Bradford as a major voice in American literature.

"O Pioneers!"

"O Pioneers!" is Bradford's most famous work. The novel tells the story of Alexandra Bergson, a Swedish immigrant who comes to Nebraska with her family in the 1870s. Alexandra is a strong and independent woman, and she is determined to make a success of her life. She becomes a successful farmer, and she helps her family and neighbors to overcome the challenges of life on the frontier.

"O Pioneers!" was published in 1913, and it was an immediate critical and commercial success. The novel won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1914, and it has been translated into more than 20 languages. "O Pioneers!" is considered one of the classic works of American literature, and it is still widely read today.

Later Years and Legacy

Bradford continued to write after the publication of "O Pioneers!" He published two more novels, "The Song of the Lark" (1915) and "A Lost Lady" (1923),and he also wrote several plays. However, none of his later works achieved the same level of success as "O Pioneers!"

Bradford died in New York City on November 15, 1936. He was 77 years old. Bradford is buried in the Oakland Cemetery in Marion, Indiana.

Bradford's work has had a lasting impact on American literature. He is considered one of the most important figures in the development of the American novel, and his work has influenced generations of writers.