Owen Wister facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Owen Wister
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Owen Wister, author of the Western novel The Virginian, and friend of 26th U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt
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| Born | July 14, 1860 |
| Died | July 21, 1938 (aged 78) |
| Occupation | Author; Attorney |
| Spouse(s) | Mary "Molly" Channing Wister (married 1898–1913, her death) |
| Children | 6 |
Owen Wister (born July 14, 1860 – died July 21, 1938) was an American writer. Many people call him the "father" of western fiction, which means he helped create the popular stories about cowboys and the American West. He is famous for his novel The Virginian. This book is about a cowboy and life in the American West.
Contents
Owen Wister's Life Story
Growing Up and Family Life
Owen Wister was born on July 14, 1860. His birthplace was Germantown, a neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Owen Jones Wister, was a rich doctor.
His mother, Sarah Butler Wister, was the daughter of a famous British actress named Fanny Kemble. His mother's father, Pierce Mease Butler, owned many enslaved people. In 1906, Owen Wister wrote a novel called Lady Baltimore. His friend, Theodore Roosevelt, who later became president, thought the book was too biased towards the Southern way of life.
Owen Wister's Education
Owen Wister went to school in Switzerland and Britain for a short time. He later studied at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. After that, he went to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
At Harvard, he was part of some student groups, like the Hasty Pudding Theatricals. He also became good friends with Theodore Roosevelt, who would later become the 26th President of the United States. Owen Wister graduated from Harvard in 1882.
At first, he wanted to be a musician. He spent two years studying music in Paris. Then, he worked briefly at a bank in New York. Later, he decided to study law and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1888. He worked for a law firm in Philadelphia, but he wasn't very interested in being a lawyer.
Wister was interested in politics. He strongly supported his friend, President Theodore Roosevelt. However, in the 1930s, Wister did not agree with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal programs. The New Deal was a series of programs and reforms in the United States during the Great Depression.
Owen Wister's Writing Career
Owen Wister started writing in 1882. His first book was The New Swiss Family Robinson, which was a funny version of an older adventure novel. The famous writer Mark Twain even wrote a letter to Wister, saying how much he liked it.
Wister spent many summers in the American West. His first trip to Wyoming was in 1885. He wanted to hunt, fish, meet Native Americans, and camp outdoors. Like his friend Teddy Roosevelt, Wister loved the culture and wild lands of the West. After several trips, he decided to stop practicing law and become a writer.
In 1893, Wister visited Yellowstone National Park. There, he met the artist Frederic Remington, who drew pictures of the West. They became lifelong friends.
When Wister began writing stories, he naturally chose to write about the western frontier. His most famous book is the 1902 novel The Virginian. This book mixes real experiences, stories he heard, and his own imagination. It created the idea of the archetypal cowboy, a brave and noble character. The story is set during a time of conflict called the Johnson County War, and it supports the side of the large landowners.
Many people believe The Virginian was the first cowboy novel. It was very popular and was reprinted many times. Hollywood experts say it shaped how cowboys are shown in books, movies, and TV shows today.
In 1904, Wister helped turn The Virginian into a successful play. Later, in 1914, Cecil B. DeMille made a movie based on the play.
Owen Wister was a member of several literary groups. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Owen Wister's Family Life
In 1898, Owen Wister married Mary Channing. They had six children together. Sadly, Mary died in 1913 while giving birth. Their daughter, Marina Wister, married artist Andrew Dasburg in 1933.
When Did Owen Wister Die?
Owen Wister died in 1938 at his home in Saunderstown, Rhode Island. He is buried in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia.
Owen Wister's Legacy
Since 1978, the University of Wyoming has published a magazine called Owen Wister Review. It is a literary and arts magazine named after him.
There is a mountain in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming named Mount Wister. It is 11,490 feet tall and was named in honor of Owen Wister.
Near a house that Wister built in La Mesa, California, there is a street called Wister Drive. In the same area, there are also streets named Virginian Lane and Molly Woods Avenue. These streets were named by Wister himself, after characters from his famous novel.
In 1976, Owen Wister was added to the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. This honor recognizes people who have made important contributions to the American West.
Movies and TV Shows Inspired by The Virginian
Many experts in the movie industry agree that most western films have been influenced by Owen Wister's book, The Virginian. It is widely accepted that the "Hollywood cowboy" character we see in movies and TV is based on this book.
Here are some of the movies and TV shows inspired by The Virginian:
- The Virginian (1914 film) directed by Cecil B. DeMille
- The Virginian (1923 film)
- The Virginian (1929 film) with Gary Cooper
- The Virginian (1946 film)
- The Virginian (1962–1971 TV series)
- The Virginian 2000 TV movie
- The Virginian 2014 TV movie
See also
In Spanish: Owen Wister para niños
