Shaw, Irwin

Author Irwin Shaw was born in New York and educated at Brooklyn College; after graduation he wrote for radio serials to help support his destitute family. He became a successful playwright, which led to work on various movies, including both original screenplays and adaptations. He gradually shifted his emphasis to short stories, and produced a series of acclaimed stories for New Yorker and other periodicals. He was a non-combatant in World War II but, traveling with a filmmaking unit, he witnessed many of the war's key moments. He began writing successful novels, and lived an indulgent lifestyle in voluntary exile in Europe, where he produced Rich Man, Poor Man, a commercial success but a critical flop. A superior craftsman, Shaw will be remembered for his stylish short stories and notable achievements with plays and novels.

From the description of Irwin Shaw letter to Robie Macauley, 1970 Sept. 14. (Pennsylvania State University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 71790590

...