Robert Lewis Taylor American writer, Pulitzer Prize winner Date of Birth: 24.09.1912 Country: USA

Biography of Robert Lewis Taylor

Robert Lewis Taylor was an American writer and winner of the Pulitzer Prize. He was born in 1912 in Carbondale, Illinois, USA. Taylor received his education at Southern Illinois University and later at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Arts.

After becoming a journalist, Taylor began writing biographical sketches for "The New Yorker" magazine in 1939. He also contributed to publications such as "The Saturday Evening Post" and "Reader's Digest". During World War II, from 1942 to 1946, Taylor served in the United States Navy, and his experiences during his service became the inspiration for many of his stories.

In 1948, Taylor published his book "Doctor, Lawyer, Merchant, Chief", followed by "W. C. Fields His Follies and Fortunes" a year later. His humorous and light-hearted columns in the magazine gained him popularity among readers. However, his colleagues remember him as a rather eccentric individual, as he would often react explosively to any irony directed towards him.

In 1952, he published a biographical book about Winston Churchill titled "Winston Churchill: An Informal Study of Greatness". In 1959, Taylor became the recipient of the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for his novel "The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters". The book was later adapted into a television series in 1963, which Taylor also contributed to as a screenwriter. The lead character, a 14-year-old boy named Jamie, who embarks on a journey with his father during the Gold Rush in search of a better life, was portrayed by a young Kurt Russell. The series aired for only one season.

One of Taylor's most successful books was the adventure novel "A Journey to Matecumbe", published in 1961, which was also adapted into a film titled "Treasure of Matecumbe". The story follows a group of adventurers on a dangerous quest for buried treasures. Taylor's novel "Professor Fodorski" served as the basis for the musical "All American".

Taylor's 1964 book "Two Roads to Guadalupe" was also highly successful. Throughout his life, Taylor wrote and published 15 books. He lived for 86 years and passed away on September 30, 1998.