Charles Portis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charles Portis
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| Born | Charles McColl Portis December 28, 1933 El Dorado, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Died | February 17, 2020 (aged 86) Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S. |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Period | 1966–1991 |
| Genre | Western |
| Notable works | True Grit Norwood |
Charles Portis (born December 28, 1933 – died February 17, 2020) was an American writer. He was famous for his exciting novels, especially True Grit and Norwood. Both of these books were made into movies! True Grit was so popular it even got a second movie version in 2010. People often say Portis was one of the funniest writers of Western stories.
Early Life
Charles Portis was born in 1933 in El Dorado, Arkansas. He grew up and went to school in different towns in southern Arkansas.
When he was older, Portis joined the U.S. Marine Corps. This was during the Korean War. He became a sergeant before leaving the Marines in 1955.
After his military service, he went to the University of Arkansas. He studied journalism and finished his degree in 1958.
Writing Career
Portis started writing while he was still in college. He wrote for his university newspaper and other local papers. He learned a lot about different ways people talk, which helped him create unique characters later on.
After college, he worked as a reporter for several newspapers. He even moved to New York City and worked for the New York Herald Tribune. He traveled a lot for his job, covering important stories. In 1964, he decided to leave journalism to focus on writing books.
First Novels
Portis moved back to Arkansas and began writing full-time. His first novel was Norwood, published in 1966. This book is about a young, innocent ex-Marine named Norwood Pratt. He travels across the country and meets many interesting and funny people.
His next novel, True Grit, came out in 1968. This story is told by a smart and determined 14-year-old girl named Mattie Ross. Her father is murdered, and she sets out to find the killer. She hires a tough U.S. Marshal named Rooster Cogburn to help her. Mattie believes Cogburn has "true grit," meaning he is brave and determined.
Both Norwood and True Grit were made into movies. The first True Grit movie, released in 1969, was a big hit. The actor John Wayne even won an Academy Award for playing Rooster Cogburn. A second movie version of True Grit was released in 2010.
Other Works
Charles Portis also wrote short stories and articles for magazines like The Atlantic Monthly. These often included his memories and observations.
His last published book was Escape Velocity: A Charles Portis Miscellany in 2012. This book was a collection of his non-fiction writings, journalism, short stories, and even a play. It covered many topics, from road trips to famous people like Elvis Presley.
Later Life and Death
Charles Portis lived in Little Rock, Arkansas. He passed away on February 17, 2020, at the age of 86, due to Alzheimer's disease.
Works
Novels
- 1966: Norwood
- 1968: True Grit
- 1979: The Dog of the South
- 1985: Masters of Atlantis
- 1991: Gringos
Nonfiction
- 2012: Escape Velocity: A Charles Portis Miscellany
Short fiction, articles, etc.
- "The New Sound from Nashville," The Saturday Evening Post, 1966.
- "Traveling Light," The Saturday Evening Post, 1966. (A version of Norwood).
- "True Grit," The Saturday Evening Post, 1968. (A condensed version of True Grit).
- "Your Action Line", The New Yorker Archive, 1977.
- "Nights Can Turn Cool in Viborra", The Atlantic Monthly, 1992.
- "I Don't Talk Service No More." The Atlantic Monthly, 1996.
- "Combinations of Jacksons." The Atlantic Monthly, 1999. (A Memoir).
