Margaret Ayer Barnes

Franklin Library Margaret Ayer Barnes books

Years of Grace - Library of Pulitzer Prize Classics - 1976

 

Margaret Ayer Barnes biography

Margaret Ayer Barnes, born on April 8, 1886, in Chicago, Illinois, was an American playwright, novelist, and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. She gained recognition for her insightful exploration of human relationships and societal changes in the early 20th century. Barnes grew up in a family deeply involved in the arts and intellectual pursuits. She received her education at Bryn Mawr College and later studied playwriting at the University of Chicago. In 1916, she married Cecil Barnes, a prominent Chicago attorney, and the couple had three children.

Margaret Ayer Barnes began her literary career as a poet and playwright but found greater success as a novelist. Her breakthrough came with the historical novel Years of Grace, published in 1930. The novel, which spans several decades and explores the life of a Midwestern woman, earned Barnes the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1931, making her one of the early female recipients of this prestigious award. Years of Grace was praised for its meticulous historical research, character development, and its depiction of the evolving role of women in American society. The novel's success solidified Barnes' reputation as a skilled and insightful writer. Barnes continued her literary career with novels such as Dishonored Lady (1930) and Westward Passage (1931), further exploring themes of marriage, identity, and societal expectations. While her later works did not achieve the same level of success as Years of Grace, Barnes remained a respected figure in American literature.

In addition to her fiction writing, Margaret Ayer Barnes was involved in the Chicago literary scene and was a founding member of the Chicago chapter of the Poetry Society of America. She also contributed essays to various publications.

In the quiet shadows of literary history, the life and narrative of Margaret Ayer Barnes emerge as a testament to a woman who navigated the shifting currents of the early 20th century and left an indelible mark on American literature. Born on April 8, 1886, in Chicago, Margaret Ayer embarked on a journey that would see her become a celebrated novelist, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and a chronicler of the social and cultural dynamics of her time. Margaret Ayer Barnes passed away on October 25, 1967, leaving behind a legacy of work that reflected the changing dynamics of American society in the early 20th century. Her insightful and well-researched novels continue to be studied and appreciated for their contribution to American literature.

 

Years of Grace

She fought the battle of the generations victoriously because she understood both the years of grace and the age of jazz. Her story reveals the beauty, the drama, and the passion that can lie unsuspected beneath a quiet exterior.