Newton Booth Tarkington achieved success as an American novelist and dramatist during the early twentieth century, becoming one of only four authors to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction twice. Between 1914 and 1928, he maintained a streak where seven of his novels ranked among the top ten best-selling books in the United States annually.
Early Development and Academic Years
Born in Indianapolis on July 29, 1869, Tarkington was the son of judge John S. Tarkington and Elizabeth Booth Tarkington. His secondary education took place at Shortridge High School and Phillips Exeter Academy. He attended Purdue University for two years before transferring to Princeton University. At Princeton, he was a founding member of the Triangle Club and served as president of the university's Dramatic Association. Although he missed earning his undergraduate degree due to failing a single classics course, his campus presence was significant enough that his peers voted him the most popular member of the class of 1893.
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Tarkington began his professional writing career with the 1899 novel The Gentleman from Indiana. He briefly entered public service between 1902 and 1903 as a Republican member of the Indiana House of Representatives, an experience that informed his collection In The Arena. As a writer, he demonstrated remarkable commercial output; his works such as Penrod and Seventeen enjoyed immense popularity, with the latter selling approximately 1.7 million copies between 1895 and 1975.
Literary Themes and Recognition
Much of Tarkington's fiction focused on the Midwest and the social dynamics of the American class system, often exploring themes of upward mobility and the nouveau riche. His work earned significant critical and institutional recognition, including the Pulitzer Prize for The Magnificent Ambersons in 1919 and Alice Adams in 1922. In 1945, the American Academy of Arts and Letters awarded him the William Dean Howells Medal. Despite facing severe vision loss during his later years in Kennebunkport, Maine, he continued to produce work by dictating to his secretary, Elizabeth Trotter.
Fast facts
- Born: 1869, Indianapolis
- Died: 1946, Indianapolis
- Education: Purdue University, Princeton University
- Primary Occupations: Novelist, playwright, screenwriter
- Pulitzer Prize wins: 1919, 1922
- Key novels: The Magnificent Ambersons, Alice Adams
- Notable honor: William Dean Howells Medal (1945)
- Burial site: Crown Hill Cemetery
Questions readers ask
Did Tarkington hold political office?
Yes, he served one term in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1902 to 1903.
How did he continue writing after losing his vision?
He dictated his work to his secretary, Elizabeth Trotter.
What major awards did he receive?
He won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction twice and the William Dean Howells Medal.
Achievements
- William Dean Howells Medal of the American Academy of Arts and Letters — 1945
- Pulitzer Prize for the Novel — 1919
