Literary Work- The Magnificent Ambersons

Booth Tarkington is best remembered for his book, “The Magnificent Ambersons”, but in his life, wrote over twenty novels. Although the most popular, “The Magnificent Ambersons” was the second in a series of three books called “The Growth Trilogy”. The other two books in the trilogy were called “The Turmoil” and “The Midlander”, which was re-titled as “National Avenue”. The characters in these novels were mostly aristocrats. This was a result of the influence from Tarkington’s own rich upbringing. The novels describe, in great detail, changing times and changing social classes. The time of the Civil War to the time of World War I, is when these novels are set.

Tarkington won two Pulitzer Prizes, almost back to back. He was awarded such for “The Magnificent Ambersons” and “Alice Adams”. The novel “The Magnificent Ambersons” was made into a movie by Orson Welles. It was filmed right after he wrapped up Citizen Kane, and there was TONS of footage recorded. Sadly, he was unhappy with a lot of it, so it was cut, and later destroyed. Supposedly, Welles was sent a copy of the original, before the cuts, but no one ever found it.

-Clancy Darcy