MacKinlay Kantor
A Pulitzer-winning author who used immersive historical research to bring the brutal reality of the American Civil War, particularly its prison camps, to the page.
1904–1977 (age 73)·American journalist·Birthday: February 4·The Greatest Generation
Biography
MacKinlay Kantor was a storyteller who found his most powerful material in the past. A journalist from Iowa, he turned to writing novels and screenplays, often drawn to the dramatic weight of American history. His method was one of deep saturation; for his defining work, 'Andersonville,' he spent decades researching the notorious Confederate prison camp, even living near its Georgia site to absorb the atmosphere. The result was a massive, unflinching 1955 novel that presented the camp's horrors through a kaleidoscope of perspectives, from prisoners to guards. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, forcing a national reckoning with a grim chapter of the war. Kantor's output was prodigious and varied, encompassing westerns, crime stories, and the screenplay for the classic film 'The Best Years of Our Lives.' His legacy is that of a narrative archaeologist, who believed that to understand the present, one must first grapple with the visceral truths of the past.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
MacKinlay was born in 1904, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When MacKinlay Was Born
The biggest hits of 1904
MacKinlay's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1904Born
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1909Started school
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1917Became a teenager
Russian Revolution overthrows the tsar; US enters WWI
President: Woodrow Wilson
1920Could drive
Women gain the right to vote in the US
Home: $3,395President: Woodrow Wilson"Swanee" — Al Jolson
1922Could vote
King Tut's tomb discovered in Egypt
President: Warren G. Harding"April Showers" — Al Jolson
1925Turned 21
The Scopes Trial debates evolution in schools
Home: $4,366President: Calvin Coolidge"Sweet Georgia Brown" — Ben Bernie
1934Turned 30
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1944Turned 40
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1954Turned 50
Brown v. Board of Education desegregates US schools
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $8,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Little Things Mean a Lot" — Kitty KallenBest Picture: On the Waterfront
1964Turned 60
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1974Turned 70
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1977Died at 73
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
Key Achievements
- Awarded the 1956 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his novel 'Andersonville,' depicting the infamous Civil War prison.
- Wrote the story and screenplay for William Wyler's 1946 film 'The Best Years of Our Lives,' which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.
- Published over 30 novels, including historical works like 'Long Remember' (about Gettysburg) and 'Spirit Lake'.
- Served as a correspondent for the U.S. Air Force in World War II, flying combat missions to gather material.
Did You Know?
He wrote his first novel, 'Diversey,' at the age of 17 while working as a reporter for the Webster City Daily News.
During his research for 'Andersonville,' he typed the entire manuscript on a continuous roll of paper to avoid interruptions.
He invented an early portable writing desk that he called the 'Writing Box,' which he used in the field.
His son, Tim Kantor, was a noted photojournalist for Life magazine.
“A writer is someone who has written today.”
