Irwin Shaw

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Irwin_Shaw_(1948).jpg

Irwin Shaw (February 27, 1913 – May 16, 1984) was an American playwright, screenwriter, novelist, and short-story author. His works have been translated into numerous languages, and he is best known for his novel The Young Lions (1948) and the short story The Girls in Their Summer Dresses (1939).

Early Life

Irwin Shaw was born Irwin Gilbert Shamforoff in The Bronx, New York City, to Russian-Jewish immigrants. He attended Brooklyn College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1934. Shaw initially worked as a radio writer before transitioning to playwriting and fiction.

Career

Shaw's first play, Bury the Dead (1936), was an anti-war piece that garnered critical acclaim. He continued to write plays throughout the 1930s and 1940s, including The Gentle People (1939) and The Assassin (1945).

Novels

Shaw's debut novel, The Young Lions, was published in 1948 and is considered one of his most significant works. The novel, which explores the lives of three soldiers during World War II, was later adapted into a film in 1958. His other notable novels include Rich Man, Poor Man (1970), which was adapted into a successful television miniseries in 1976, and Evening in Byzantium (1973).

Short Stories

Shaw was also a prolific short story writer. His short stories often appeared in magazines such as The New Yorker and Esquire. Some of his most famous short stories include The Girls in Their Summer Dresses, The Eighty-Yard Run, and Tip on a Dead Jockey.

Screenwriting

In addition to his work in literature, Shaw wrote screenplays for several films, including The Talk of the Town (1942) and Desire Under the Elms (1958). He also contributed to the screenplay for Fire Down Below (1957).

Personal Life

Shaw married Marian Edwards in 1939, and they had one son, Adam Shaw. The family lived in Europe for many years, primarily in Switzerland and France, before returning to the United States.

Death

Irwin Shaw died of prostate cancer on May 16, 1984, in Davos, Switzerland. He was 71 years old.

Legacy

Shaw's work continues to be studied and appreciated for its narrative style and exploration of human nature. His novels and short stories remain in print, and his influence can be seen in the works of contemporary writers.

Selected Works

• Bury the Dead (1936)
• The Gentle People (1939)
• The Young Lions (1948)
• Rich Man, Poor Man (1970)
• Evening in Byzantium (1973)
• Acceptable Losses (1982)

See Also

• American literature
• List of American novelists
• List of American short story writers