Picture a Kansas City storyteller who turned the quiet struggles of mid-20th-century America into literary gold—meet Evan S. Connell! With his sharp wit and keen eye for human quirks, Connell crafted stories that resonate like a soft jazz tune, especially in his iconic Bridge series. From a privileged childhood to a celebrated career, his journey is as captivating as his prose.
The Making of Evan S. Connell
Born on August 17, 1924, in Kansas City, Missouri, Evan Shelby Connell Jr. grew up in a well-to-do family, the son of a physician and a judge’s daughter. A shy, introspective child, he found solace in books and the engineering club at Southwest High School. After stints at Dartmouth and the University of Kansas, where he earned a B.A. in 1947, Connell honed his craft under literary giants like Wallace Stegner at Stanford. His early years, marked by Navy service and odd jobs like reading gas meters, fueled his fascination with the ordinary lives he’d later dissect with precision.
Evan S. Connell’s Unforgettable Stories
Connell’s debut novel, Mrs. Bridge (1959), is a masterpiece of understated satire, painting a poignant portrait of India Bridge, a Kansas City housewife trapped by societal expectations. Its sequel, Mr. Bridge (1969), shifts to her husband Walter, revealing the emotional chasm beneath their polished lives. Both books, later adapted into a 1990 Merchant-Ivory film starring Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, earned critical acclaim for their vignette-style storytelling and sharp social commentary. Connell’s Son of the Morning Star (1984), a vivid nonfiction account of Custer’s Last Stand, became a bestseller, blending meticulous research with novelistic flair. His eclectic oeuvre also includes The Diary of a Rapist (1966), a chilling psychological study, and poetry like Points for a Compass Rose (1973), showcasing his genre-defying versatility.
Connell’s style—crisp, ironic, and deeply empathetic—captures the human condition with a Chekhovian touch. Whether exploring Midwestern repression or historical tragedies, he wove philosophical depth into deceptively simple narratives, earning praise from luminaries like Dorothy Parker for his “fine style and amazing variety.”
Why Evan S. Connell Matters
Evan S. Connell’s work remains a touchstone for understanding the quiet tensions of American life. His Bridge novels, often compared to the works of John Updike, offer timeless insights into conformity and isolation, influencing writers who probe domestic unease. Son of the Morning Star redefined historical narrative, inspiring nonfiction authors like John McPhee. Despite his reclusive nature and aversion to the spotlight, Connell’s 2009 Man Booker International Prize nomination and 2010 Robert Kirsch Award cemented his legacy as a writer’s writer, whose eclectic brilliance continues to captivate discerning readers.
- About Evan S. Connell
- Born: August 17, 1924, Kansas City, Missouri
- Key Works: Mrs. Bridge, Mr. Bridge, Son of the Morning Star
- Awards: 2009 Man Booker International Prize nomination, 2010 Robert Kirsch Award
- Died: January 10, 2013, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Snag Mrs. Bridge and dive into Evan S. Connell’s witty, soul-stirring world of American dreams and dilemmas!