Fannie Hurst

Fannie Hurst
Fannie Hurst in 1932. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten.
Fannie Hurst in 1932. Photograph by
Carl Van Vechten.
BornOctober 18, 1889
Hamilton, Ohio
DiedFebruary 23, 1968 (aged 78)
Manhattan, New York City
OccupationNovelist, writer
Notable worksBack Street, Imitation of Life
SpouseJacques S. Danielson (1915-1952; his death)

Fannie Hurst (October 18, 1889 – February 23, 1968)[1] was an American novelist and short-story writer whose works were highly popular during the post-World War I era. Her work combined sentimental, romantic themes with social issues of the day, such as women's rights and race relations. She was one of the most widely read female authors of the 20th century, and for a time in the 1920s she was one of the highest-paid American writers. Hurst actively supported a number of social causes, including feminism, African American equality, and New Deal programs.[2]

Although her novels, including Lummox (1923), Back Street (1931), and Imitation of Life (1933), lost popularity over time and were mostly out of print as of the 2000s, they were bestsellers when first published and were translated into many languages. She also published over 300 short stories during her lifetime.

Hurst is known for the film adaptations of her works, including Imitation of Life (1934), Four Daughters (1938), Imitation of Life (1959), Humoresque (1946), and Young at Heart (1954).

  1. ^ West, Kathryn (2004). "Fannie Hurst". In Wintz, Cary D. (ed.). Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance. Vol. 1: A-J. Finkelman, Paul. New York and Abingdon: Routledge. pp. 596–597. ISBN 1-57958-389-X. Retrieved June 21, 2010.
  2. ^ O'Brian, Edward (1918). The best American short stories of 1917 and the yearbook of the American short story. Boston Small, Maynard & Company Publishers. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2015.