Wandrei, Donald, 1908-1987

Donald Wandrei was born on April 20, 1908 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Albert C. (1872-1942) and Jeannette Adelaide (1878-1972) Wandrei. He had three siblings, David G. ([1907?]-1959), Howard (1909-1956), and Jeannette Alberta (1913-1972). Donald received his B.A. degree with a major in English prose from the University of Minnesota in 1928. While in school he was a contributor to the Minnesota Quarterly and a member of the editorial board of the Minnesota Daily. He sold his first story, "The Red Brain," to the magazine Weird Tales in 1927, became a regular contributor to several national magazines, and during his senior year published his first book of poetry entitled Ecstasy and Other Poems (1928).

After graduating, Donald moved to New York City and worked as advertising manager for the publishing firm E.P. Dutton & Co. He returned to St. Paul in 1929; completed three years of course work towards a Ph.D. in English; and, together with his brother Howard, published a second volume of verse entitled Dark Odyssey (1931). After returning to New York (1932) Donald worked as a public relations executive and continued to write fantastic fiction.

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