William
Saroyan
was born in Fresno, California, on 31st August, 1908. Saroyan left
school at fifteen but continued his education by reading books in
the public library. His first collection of stories, The
Darling Young Man on the Flying Trapeze appeared in 1934.
This was followed by Inhale and Exhale
(1936).
Saroyan became involved in the Group Theatre
in New York where he worked with Harold Clurman,
Lee Strasberg, Elia
Kazan and Clifford Odets. Members of
the group tended to hold left-wing political views and wanted to produce
plays that dealt with important social issues. The group produced
his play, My Heart's in the Highlands
(1939). The following year he was awarded the Pulitzer
Prize for his play The Time of Your Life,
but he rejected it.
Saroyan's later work includes the autobiographical My
Name is Aram (1940), Dear Baby
(1944), The Human Comedy (1943),
Mama, I Love You (1956), Papa,
You're Crazy (1957), One Day in
the Afternoon of the World (1964) and Places
Where I Have Done Time (1975).
Saroyan wrote three volumes of autobiography: The
Bicycle Rider in Beverley Hills (1952),
There Goes, You Know Who (1961)
and Obituaries (1979). William
Saroyan died on 18th May, 1981.
Available from Amazon Books
(order below)
