Sherwood Anderson - A Short Story Collection - Volume 2: Stories for Adults

Volume 2

Sherwood Anderson, born on September 13th, 1876, in Camden, Ohio, faced a tumultuous upbringing as his family was forced to relocate frequently due to his father's failed business ventures, eventually settling in Clyde, Ohio. Despite leaving school at the age of 14 to assist with the family's financial struggles, Anderson's thirst for opportunities led him to Chicago, where he joined the army for the US-Spanish War of 1898. Afterward, he attended Wittenberg Academy in Springfield, Ohio, to complete his education before returning to Chicago to pursue a writing career.

In 1904, Anderson married Cornelia Lane, whose family resources enabled him to venture into entrepreneurship. The marriage produced three children, but his success as a business entrepreneur was marred by a series of nervous breakdowns in 1907 and 1912, leading him to abandon his family and decide that a literary career would better suit him. This decision resulted in a move back to Chicago, where he found employment in the advertising industry, a divorce from Cornelia, and a marriage to Tennessee Mitchell.

That same year, Anderson's first book, "Windy McPherson's Son," was released, and in 1919, his most acclaimed work, "Winesburg, Ohio," a collection of short stories depicting life in an Ohio town, was published. While Anderson continued to write short stories, novels, and non-fiction, "Dark Laughter" became his only true bestseller. His influence on subsequent writers, from Faulkner to Hemingway, was immense, as he left an indelible mark on the literary landscape.

Tragically, Sherwood Anderson passed away on March 8th, 1941, in Colón, Panama, at the age of 64. An autopsy revealed that his untimely demise was caused by peritonitis resulting from a swallowed toothpick. His headstone epitaph, "Life, Not Death is the Great Adventure," serves as a poignant testament to his enduring legacy.

This compilation, comprising "Seeds," "Senility," "Adventure," "The Strength of God," and "War," offers a captivating exploration of Anderson's literary prowess and the themes that defined his artistic vision.

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