Walter D. Edmonds

Walter "Wat" Dumaux Edmonds (July 15, 1903 - January 24 1998) was an American author noted for his historical novels, including the popular Drums Along the Mohawk of 1936 which was later made into a movie.

Related Topics:
July 15 - 1903 - January 24 - 1998 - American - Author - Historical novel - Drums Along the Mohawk - 1936

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Walter was born in Boonville, New York, and began a longtime association with Harvard University when he entered Choate Rosemary Hall in 1919. Originally intended for chemical engineering, he became more interested in writing, and worked as managing editor of the Literary Magazine, then edited The Advocate, and received an A.B. in 1926.

Related Topics:
Boonville, New York - Harvard University - Choate Rosemary Hall - 1919 - Chemical engineering - Managing editor - Literary Magazine - The Advocate - 1926

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In 1929, he published his first novel Rome Haul, a work about the Erie Canal, later a play The Farmer Takes a Wife. He married Eleanor Stetson in 1930.

Related Topics:
1929 - Rome Haul - Erie Canal - Play - The Farmer Takes a Wife - Eleanor Stetson - 1930

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Drums Along the Mohawk was on the best-seller list for two years, and second only to Margaret Mitchell's famous 1936 novel Gone with the Wind for part of that time.

Related Topics:
Best-seller - Margaret Mitchell - Gone with the Wind

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Edmonds eventually published 34 books, many for children, as well as a number of magazine stories. He won the Newbery Medal in 1942 for The Matchlock Gun and the National Book Award in 1976.

Related Topics:
Newbery Medal - 1942 - The Matchlock Gun - National Book Award - 1976

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Eleanor died in 1956, Walter remarried, to Katherine Howe Baker Carr, who died in 1989. Walter Edmonds died in Concord, Massachusetts in 1998.

Related Topics:
1956 - Katherine Howe Baker Carr - 1989 - Concord, Massachusetts

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