Jack Matthews (author) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack Matthews
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| Born | John Harold Matthews July 22, 1925 Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | November 28, 2013 (aged 88) |
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| Education | Ohio State University (BA) |
| Period | 1965–2013 |
| Genre | philosophical fiction, historical fiction |
| Notable works | Hanger Stout Awake (novel), Sassafras (novel), Gambler's Nephew (Novel), Crazy Women (Short Stories) |
Jack Matthews (July 22, 1925 – November 28, 2013) was an American writer. He wrote many novels, short stories, and essays. He was also a playwright and a professor. Matthews published 7 novels, 11 story collections, a novella, and 8 books of essays.
He loved collecting books. Many of his book finds gave him ideas for his essays and the historical topics he wrote about in his stories. His 1972 novel, The Charisma Campaigns, was even nominated for a big award called the National Book Award. Jack Matthews often set his stories in 19th-century America, especially during the American Civil War.
Contents
Life Story of Jack Matthews
Jack Matthews was born John Harold Matthews in Columbus, Ohio, in 1925. He had a happy childhood. His father was a lawyer.
Jack served in the Coast Guard from 1943 to 1945. He worked as a radio operator on a ship in the North Pacific. After his service, he studied at Ohio State University. He earned degrees in classics and English.
After college, Matthews worked many different jobs. He sold things door-to-door and even worked as a private detective for a short time. He also worked at the Post Office for nine years. This job allowed him to write and take classes in the mornings.
In 1959, he started teaching at colleges. He taught English at Urbana College, Wichita State University, and later at Ohio University. He was a professor for many years.
Matthews was married to his wife, Barbara, for over 60 years. They had three children: John Harold III, Barbara Ellen, and Cynthia Ann. His daughter, Barbara Ellen, helped with the artwork for many of his books. Jack Matthews passed away at his home in Athens, Ohio, on November 28, 2013.
Later Books and Plays
After teaching for decades, Jack Matthews retired. He still taught writing classes part-time. He spent most of his time writing new novels and stories.
In 2011, he published A Worker's Writebook. This was a guide on how to write fiction. He also released Gambler's Nephew. This novel tells a historical story about an accidental event in 19th-century America and how it affected different families. One reviewer said the book was "surprisingly light-hearted" even though it dealt with serious topics.
In 2012, an older novel called Hanger Stout, Awake! was republished. This book was praised by famous writers like Eudora Welty. It tells the story of a high school graduate who discovers he can hang from a metal bar longer than anyone else.
In 2013, an audio version of his play Interview with the Sphinx came out. An ebook of the script was also published. The play has different versions, some with more characters. Matthews got the idea for the play after thinking about the famous riddle of the Sphinx.
His website announced new short story collections. Soldier Boys: Tales of the Civil War was published in 2016. It explores how ordinary soldiers dealt with war. Another collection, Abruptions: 3 Minute Tales to Awaken the Mind, came out in 2017. These are very short, poetic stories about unique people in small towns.
Two more collections followed: Second Death of Edgar Allan Poe and other Stories (2021) and Boxes of Time (2024). These books contain different types of stories, from historical tales to realistic stories about people's emotions.
In 2015, another novel, Schopenhauer's Will, was published. This book mixes fiction, biography, and philosophy. It has a fun and light tone, which is different from how the philosopher Schopenhauer is often seen.
Awards and Honors
Jack Matthews received many awards for his writing. Here are some of them:
- Florence Roberts Head award (1967)
- Quill award (1967)
- Guggenheim Fellowship (1974) – a special grant for creative work.
- Ohio Arts Council Grants, including a big Major Artist Award.
- His stories were chosen for The Best American Short Stories and Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards in different years.
- The Sherwood Anderson Award.
- Nomination for the NBA Fiction Award in 1972 for The Charisma Campaigns.
- Honorary Paul Harris Fellowship Award in 2013 for his community service.
Interviews and Other Media
You can find more about Jack Matthews through these links:
- On the Wired for Books page for Jack Matthews, you can listen to an audio recording. It includes a discussion about another writer, Ambrose Bierce, and a reading of Matthews's story "A Girl in the Window."
- There is an mp3 audio of "A Woman of Properties" (42 minutes) here.
- Read a 2009 Interview with Jack Matthews.
- Listen to a 2010 Audio Interview with Jack Matthews (46 minutes). In this interview, he talks about his books and the art of writing.
List of Works
Fiction, Poetry, and Plays
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Non-fiction Books
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