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Ring Lardner
Ringgold Wilmer Lardner (March 6, 1885 – September 25, 1933) was an American sports columnist and short story writer best known for his satirical writings on sports, marriage, and the theatre.
Lardner was born in Niles, Michigan, in 1885. He began his career as a sportswriter for the South Bend Times in 1907. He moved to Chicago in 1910 to work for the Chicago Tribune, where he wrote a popular column called "In the Wake of the News." Lardner's column was known for its sharp wit and its skewering of the foibles of athletes, coaches, and sports fans.
In addition to his sportswriting, Lardner also wrote short stories. His stories were often set in the world of sports, but they also explored themes of marriage, family, and the American Dream. Lardner's stories were characterized by their sharp dialogue, their deadpan humor, and their unflinching realism.
Lardner's most famous story is "The Love Nest," which was published in 1922. "The Love Nest" is a darkly funny story about a couple who move into a new apartment and quickly descend into domestic violence. The story was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish Lardner as one of the leading short story writers of his generation.
Lardner died of heart failure in 1933 at the age of 48. He is buried in Chicago.
Lardner was famous for:
- His satirical writings on sports, marriage, and the theatre.
- His sharp wit and his deadpan humor.
- His unflinching realism.
- His mastery of language.
Lardner's philosophy was to use humor to skewer hypocrisy and expose the absurdities of life. He believed that humor was a powerful tool that could be used to make people think about the world around them in a new way.
Lardner is remembered as one of the greatest American short story writers of all time. His stories are still read and enjoyed today for their sharp wit, their deadpan humor, and their unflinching realism.
Lardner was a talented writer who made a lasting contribution to American literature. His stories are still read and enjoyed today for their sharp wit, their deadpan humor, and their unflinching realism.
Books by Ring Lardner
Welcome to Spring
Spring has sprung, but for these characters, it's anything but welcome. Welcome to Spring is a collection of poems by Ring Lardner that captures the harsh realities of life in the Jazz Age. Lardner's poems are full of humor and wit, but they also of...
His Lady Friend
What if a poem could transport you to the world of baseball and love? Ring Lardner's poem "His Lady Friend" is a witty and heartwarming tale of a baseball player's love for his wife. The poem is told from the perspective of the player, who reflects...
Bib Ballads
Ring Lardner is a typical parent when his first child is born, full of wonder and the rest of the usual emotions as he watches his little son grow. He wrote a series of 29 short poems on various facets of parenthood. (Summary by Jack Thro)
You Know Me Al
Big, fat, dumb, lazy, vain, headstrong and cheap, Jack Keefe is a journeyman pitcher with the Chicago White Sox in the rowdy days of the Deadball Era, circa 1915, ruled by the likes of Ty Cobb and John McGraw. In You Know Me Al, we follow Jack Keefe'...
Gullible's Travels, Etc.
Ring Lardner's *Gullible's Travels, Etc.* is a collection of short stories that satirize the pursuit of social status and wealth in American society. Through witty observation and ironic humor, Lardner exposes the hypocrisy and absurdity of social cl...
Visit From Young Gloom
'Visit From Young Gloom' is a satirical short story by Ring Lardner that skewers the institution of marriage. The story follows a couple who are visited by a young man who is the embodiment of gloom. The young man's presence forces the couple to conf...
His Memory
In "His Memory," Ring Lardner combines heartfelt emotion with his signature wit to explore the profound bond between a father and son. Through a series of poignant and humorous poems, Lardner reflects on the joys and challenges of fatherhood, the de...
How To Write Short Stories, with examples
This collection of 10 humorous short stories by Ring Lardner explores the themes of sports, marriage, and the theater. Lardner's satirical wit and sharp eye for human foibles make these stories both entertaining and thought-provoking.