Nelson Algren
Born in 1909
Fiction
Literary Fiction
Nelson Algren was an American writer known for his novels depicting the lives of impoverished and marginalized people.
Born to Swedish immigrants, he grew up in Chicago and studied journalism.
His experiences as a migrant worker during the Depression influenced his writing.
Algren's most famous work, The Man with the Golden Arm, won the first National Book Award in 1950.
His writing style combined naturalism with poetic elements, focusing on urban lowlifes and their struggles.
Algren's commitment to portraying the underdog and his vivid use of colloquial language characterized his work throughout his career.
He served as an editor and enlisted in World War II, experiences that further shaped his perspective as a writer.
