Margaret Mitchell Writer 'Gone with the Wind' Date of Birth: 08.11.1900 Country: USA

Biography of Margaret Mitchell

Margaret Mitchell, the author of "Gone with the Wind," was born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1900. She came from a wealthy family with Irish and French heritage. Both of her grandfathers fought for the Confederate side during the Civil War. One of them was shot in the head but miraculously survived, while the other had to hide from the victorious Union forces.

Margaret's father, Eugene Mitchell, was a prominent lawyer in Atlanta and an expert in real estate. He was also the chairman of the local historical society, which exposed Margaret and her brother, Stephens, to stories of the past and the fascinating events that shaped their city and region.

Even during her school years, Margaret showed a passion for literature. She wrote plays for the school theater, often drawing inspiration from exotic countries and even the history of Russia. She also enjoyed dancing and horseback riding. After graduating high school, she attended the Washington Seminary and later spent nearly a year at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, where she dreamed of interning with Sigmund Freud in Austria.

In 1922, Margaret pursued a career in journalism and became a reporter and essayist for the "Atlanta Journal," specializing in historical articles. In 1925, she married John Marsh, an insurance agent, and left her job as a reporter to live near Peachtree Street, which would later become famous through her novel.

It was during this time that Margaret began working on her novel, "Gone with the Wind," which she wrote between 1926 and 1936. Legend has it that the creation of the novel started with the final line of the last chapter: "She had not understood either of the men she had loved and had lost them both." In December 1935, after completing the 60th and final version of the first chapter, Margaret sent the manuscript to a publisher. The name of the novel's main character, Scarlett O'Hara, was even chosen last minute by the publisher. The theme of the novel, according to Margaret herself, was "survival."

Despite being rejected by a group of literary critics, Margaret Mitchell's novel became an instant bestseller upon its release and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1938. It has been translated into numerous languages and has had over 70 editions in the United States alone. Margaret, however, refused to write a sequel to the novel, jokingly saying that it would be a story of moral high ground and hypocrisy. She also declined offers for a film adaptation about her life, refused interviews, and did not allow her name to be used for advertising related to the novel. She never allowed the book to be turned into a musical either.

In 1939, "Gone with the Wind" was made into a film, and its premiere took place in Atlanta on December 14th. The popularity of Scarlett O'Hara skyrocketed, leading reporters to question whether Margaret based the character on herself. This angered her, and she vehemently denied any resemblance, stating that Scarlett was a far from admirable woman, and she had strived to portray her flawed character accurately. She found it ridiculous and amusing that Scarlett had become a national heroine, believing it was detrimental to the nation's moral and intellectual state if people celebrated and idolized a woman who behaved the way Scarlett did.

Margaret Mitchell died on August 16, 1949, in Atlanta, Georgia, following an accident caused by a drunk taxi driver.