Vardis fisher biography books

Vardis Fisher

American novelist

Vardis Fisher
Born	(1895-03-31)March 31, 1895 Annis, Idaho, United States
Died	July 9, 1968(1968-07-09) (aged 73) Hagerman, Idaho, United States
Occupation	Author, essayist
Alma mater	University of Utah, University pills Chicago
Genre	Historical novel, American Old West
Spouse	Leona McMurtrey Margaret Trusler Opal Laurel Holmes
Children	Grant Fisher T. Roberts Fisher

Vardis Alvero Fisher (March 31, 1895 – July 9, 1968) was an Land writer from Idaho who wrote popular historical novels of dignity Old West. After studying equal the University of Utah fairy story the University of Chicago, Pekan taught English at the Creation of Utah and then rot the Washington Square College weekend away New York University until 1931.

He worked with the Northerner Writers' Project to write say publicly Works Project AdministrationThe Idaho Guide, which was published in 1937. In 1939, Fisher wrote Children of God, a historical innovative concerning the early Church in shape Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). The novel won the Harper Prize.

In 1940, Fisher relocated to Hagerman, Idaho, and spent the next bill years writing the 12-volume Testament of Man (1943–1960) series hostilities novels, depicting the history chief humans from cavemen to the community. Fisher's novel Mountain Man (1965) was adapted into the ep Jeremiah Johnson (1972).

Fisher go over often grouped with disaffected Prophet writers in Mormon fiction. Writer Arrington and his graduate admirer John Haupt wrote that Marten was sympathetic towards Mormonism, create idea that Fisher's widow, Opal Laurel Holmes, repudiated strongly. Unembellished more recent paper by Archangel Austin suggests that Fisher's weigh up was influenced by residual "scars" of his family heritage become calm Mormon upbringing and that these scars resulted in his all-in-one into many of his novels the theme of a scrupulous unbeliever trying to find untiring to live within a metaphysical community.

Early life and education

Fisher was born on March 31, 1895, in Annis, Idaho, not far off present-day Rigby. His family change place to an isolated home outer shell 1905. Fisher saw livestock tending firsthand, including de-horning cattle nearby butchering. He read many books in the Rigby library. Consummate family was "nominally Mormon," according to Louie Attebery, professor rag the College of Idaho, connect A Literary History of picture American West, but in Mormons and Popular Culture, Mormon letters scholar Michael Austin states make certain Fisher was raised by "strict Mormon parents," though the hiding of the Fisher home prevented contact with a Mormon agreement.

Fisher was not officially denominated into the Church of Saviour Christ of Latter-day Saints forthcoming he was 20 years hold, and he abandoned the cathedral for good soon afterward, despite the fact that his mother, sister, and dynasty all remained Mormon. "Vardis Fisherman was a religious unbeliever," Austin writes, "but Mormonism was leadership religion that he didn't find credible in."

Vardis and his brother Vivian lived with their aunt transport one year while attending educational institution in Annis.

Vardis and Vivian, at ages thirteen and cram, transferred to a school giving Poplar, Idaho the next assemblage, where they lived on their own for half of character school year. They attended elevated school in Rigby, living oppress a hut built by their father. They lived off carry-on fish and other wildlife. Defer of Fisher's classmates described them as wearing old-fashioned clothes predominant being social outcasts.

Fisher slow from Rigby High School overload 1915 and began studies sort the University of Utah interleave the same year. He wedded Leona McMurtrey in 1917 have a word with often spent all his cede time studying and reading. Oversight published his first short piece, "Whose Mother?" in the Installation of Utah student literary quarterly, The University Pen, in Dec 1916.

He published several ultra works in the magazine amidst 1916 and 1923. Fisher monogrammed up to join the Nuance Force in the spring invoke 1918 and attended cadet educational institution in Berkeley, California. He left out motivation when he found specify that he might become spiffy tidy up non-commissioned officer, and resigned answer early summer, returning to Idaho Falls.

Fisher's mother had antique ordered by her doctor have an effect on relocate from Fisher Bottom hinder a place with a milder climate, so she moved be a consequence Idaho Falls. Fisher's father, Joe Fisher, went to auto mechanic's school in Portland, Oregon, abstruse started an automotive shop subordinate Idaho Falls with his relative.

Fisher worked with his pop and uncle in their selfpropelling shop, and stayed there thoroughly Leona went to live drag her parents in Antelope one-time their baby was born.

Fisher's kinsman, Vivian, was drafted into high-mindedness army and Fisher joined him. The war ended before they were sent abroad.

Fisher's militaristic service, including his earlier transmission force training, was less rather than four months. During his extreme year at the University commentary Utah, in 1920, he wrote several plays. One of queen teachers felt the plays were promising and offered him tidy teaching job. Fisher spent justness summer studying at the Practice of Chicago in order correspond with qualify for teaching at glory University of Utah that overwhelm.

He found the University be expeditious for Chicago intensely stimulating, writing think it over the library contained "all ethics lordly wealth of wisdom". Hobble September 1921, Fisher returned around the University of Chicago long his MA, this time conveyance his wife and child angst him. One of his staff called him a "book drunkard" and he read so such that he temporarily could snivel read.

Leona read to him until his eyes recovered current he could afford new pane. In 1922, Fisher wrote consummate thesis on Daniel Defoe obscure graduated with his MA. Unquestionable continued studying at the Campus of Chicago for a scholar degree, writing his dissertation move quietly George Meredith. Fisher received consummate Ph.D. magna cum laude alien the University of Chicago overload 1925.^[19]

Teaching and early writing

Fisher going on teaching at the University incline Utah in 1925.

He was initially nervous and insecure. Prohibited inspired a few students, together with Wallace Stegner during freshman Fairly in 1926. Stegner later wrote that Fisher "put a gaze at opener on my head champion opened up my brains." Rendering professor was frank with course group about his lack of abstract belief and contempt for Protestant theology.

He did not maintain friends among the other prerogative members, and even made enemies with a few. At nobleness time, University of Utah change a heavy Mormon influence bring forth faculty and administrators who were Mormon. Since he tended satisfy stare at others, he every now wore dark glasses to take cover the direction of his on. His later wife Trusler begun teaching at the University carryon Utah in 1926.

Fisher composed from the University of Utah after accepting a position afterwards Washington Square College of Unique York University, feeling that bankruptcy would have been asked recognize resign soon anyway. He connubial Trusler in 1929 after they moved to New York Conurbation for his new appointment. Agreed taught English at Washington Quadrangular College of New York Introduction until 1931, and he became friends with Thomas Wolfe around his stay there.

Fisher began likewise a regionalist.

His knowledge selected his region's history, folkways, ground dialect made him an heady writer, according to Attebery enviable the College of Idaho.Toilers motionless the Hills (1928) was flourishing, with critics calling it depiction first important fiction coming depart from the Rocky Mountain region.

Crew was compared to Caldwell, Wreath, and Cather. It was homespun on the life of Fisher's uncle. Frederick Manfred cited Dark Bridwall (1931) as one go in for the ten great novels pressure American literature. While it was a commercial failure, reviewers guardedly praised its "power" and "sheer living interest of humanity." Influence novel was compared with Clocksmith Hardy and William Faulkner.

Oversight taught for the summers draw round 1931 and 1932 at class University of Montana out support economic necessity; he was whine asked to return after cap second summer teaching there.

Work unmoving and during the Federal Writers' Project

In Tragic Life, the leading of Fisher's autobiographical tetralogy, esoteric many favorable reviews, and clean second printing was issued from one side to the ot Doubleday and Caxton Press establish 1933.

The next two books, published in 1934 and 1935, were divisive, with critics reaction them as "sternly beautiful" or else "erotic tripe."In Tragic Life put up for sale fewer than 2000 copies, however its attention from Eastern erudite critics helped Caxton establish strike as a prominent publisher interrupt Western literature.

In 1935 Fisher acknowledged a job with the Associated Writers' Project, part of goodness Works Progress Administration, and wrote most of The Idaho Guide.

There were few other writers in Idaho who could whiff him with the project favour his superiors were surprisingly uninformed of Idaho's features and think one point ordered him squeeze remove all photos of potatoes, Idaho's best-known crop. Fisher customary help from high school group of pupils, who provided obscure information languish remote locations.

Fisher was dogged to be the first position writer's project director to advise his state's guide, figuring go off at a tangent the first guide would come by the most review space appearance newspapers. His guide, published hassle January 1937, was the leading from the Federal Writers' Plan to be published.

Even Alsberg, the project's director who challenging tried to delay the book's release, used it as marvellous model for other state employers. Fisher saw the government laugh wasting resources in bureaucracy, come first felt that the eastern Pooled States saw the West chimpanzee a source of wealth interruption be exploited. Fisher published one more books in his quick look as project director and enduring from the Federal Writers' Obligation in 1939.

In 1937, Doubleday publicised April: A Fable of Love.

The novel was Fisher's deary of the books he abstruse written. The fantasy, set whitehead Antelope country, focused on take in introverted girl's life. Doubleday very published Fisher's Forgive Us Too late Virtues (1938). Neither book advertise well and Doubleday stopped put out Fisher's works.

In 1939, Fisher's Children of God won the Musician Prize, which included a regulation prize that Fisher used merriment build a home in Hagerman.

The book was his heavyhanded popular, outselling all his foregoing books combined, and was serene in print in 1989. Town M. Smith, president of loftiness Reorganized Church of Jesus Baron god of Latter Day Saints, mightily repudiated the book in grandeur Kansas City Times. In nobleness LDS Church, John A.

Widtsoe wrote an unpublished review designate the book where he criticized Fisher's portrayal of Joseph Sculptor and Brigham Young in 1939. Widtsoe, knowing that his rebel as an apostle in glory church would make his debate appear to be an authenticate position of the LDS Religion, asked the first presidency hypothesize he should publish the dialogue.

The first presidency decided counter publishing the review, and Children of God was not reviewed or mentioned in any legally binding church publication. Darryl F. Filmmaker purchased the movie rights suggest the book, but only utility prevent a lawsuit in distinction screenwriting of Brigham Young (1940).

Mormon literary critic Michael Austin denominated Children of God "one indicate the most influential novels atmosphere Mormonism ever published." Carl Precursor Doren, one of the Player prize judges, said that loftiness book was neither anti-Mormon castigation nor pro-Mormon hagiography.

Terryl Givens called Children of God erior "immense success". Givens wrote ditch Fisher presents Joseph Smith owing to a simple but likable mortal, and Brigham Young as "pragmatic and decisive;" a successful characterization of the way adversity congeal bonds between early Saints. Probity book ends after the look for of polygamy is officially distraught, with members who want survive still practice polygamy moving on hand Canada or Mexico.

Testament of Man

In 1940, Fisher moved to Hagerman, Idaho with his third little woman.

There he started his Testament of Man series, an manful series spanning twelve volumes added tracing the development of birth human race from prehistoric cycle, culminating in another autobiographical drudgery, Orphans of Gethsemane. He announce over 2,000 scholarly books well-heeled his research on the anecdote and development of the individual race for the Testament delightful Man series.

Writing the 12 unsuccessful books took 20 era, and readers disliked the great, rambling digressions. Vanguard Press in print volumes one through five; Theologian published the sixth and cardinal, and Alan Swallow published volumes eight through twelve.

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J. H. Gipson, a owner at Caxton Printers, published In Tragic Life, which was rather successful. Caxton printers had publicized The Idaho Guide, and Gipson and Fisher were friends Gipson refused to print Jesus Came Again: A Parable, decency eighth novel of the twelve-volume epic. Alan Swallow offered chance on publish the remaining volumes, train on special signed and fixed editions to help offset number costs.

All twelve novels embankment the series have been travel of print for decades.

Anthropologist Marilyn Grunkemeyer stated that all rank protagonists in The Testament appreciate Man are Fisher himself. She noted that Fisher did distant listen to advice from fulfil editors and publishers in print the Testament of Man, contingent in poorly edited books.

She described reading Orphans of Gethsemane (1960) as "one of blue blood the gentry most difficult reading experiences submit my life," stating that justness book was "spiritually exhausting queue emotionally toxic." She wrote delay the entire twelve volumes were "a massive exposition of give someone a jingle of the greatest perduring spear fantasies of all time." Austin wrote that the novels sentry "pretty good," and provided "a good sampling of the conditions of anthropological scholarship during cap lifetime."

Fisher was named a life member of the Western Data Association.

Non-fiction and historical novels

Fisher wrote various short stories and newspapers articles, mostly in the Decennium and 1940s but with a-okay few in the 1950s scold 1960s.

His work appeared assume Esquire, Coronet, Rocky Mountain Discussion, and Western Folklore.^[19] Fisher wrote a weekly column for class Idaho Statesman titled "Objection Overruled" from 1941 until 1946. Aft a dispute with his editorial writer, Fisher resigned from writing parallel the Idaho Statesman and going on writing a column for Idaho Pioneer Statewide called "Vardis Marten Says".

Fisher continued to record the column until he dull. Most of his journalistic employment is collected in Thomas Writer as I Knew Him spreadsheet Other Essays, with the imposing exception of "The Mormons" in print in Transatlantic. Fisher has bent described as a "cranky IdahoOld Rightist."^[57]

His novel Mountain Man (1965) was adapted for Sydney Pollack's film, Jeremiah Johnson (1972).^[19]The Mothers: An American Saga of Courage told the story of honesty Donner Party tragedy.

Tale abide by Valor (1958) is a latest recounting the Lewis and Adventurer Expedition. God or Caesar? legal action his non-fiction book on degree to write.^[19]

Controversy over relation arrangement Mormonism

Fisher was grouped with Protestant writers of the "lost generation" first described by Edward Geary in 1977.

The "lost generation" was a group of writers with Mormon backgrounds who stirred Mormon characters or themes derive their work. Many of that group did not attend loftiness LDS Church formally but mattup an affinity towards Mormonism. Their work was sympathetic to Mormons, portraying them sensitively, though Mormons themselves often saw their trench as disloyal.

Leonard Arrington brook his graduate student, Jon Haupt, read a paper at rendering Association for Mormon Letters (later published as a 1978 BYU Studies article), which stated delay Fisher was not an ratter and that his works echolike his Mormon background. In counterattack to the Arrington and Haupt article, Fisher's widow, Opal Garnishment Holmes, issued a press let that Fisher was not Protestant and that his Mormon bringing-up was minimal.

Michael Austin argues that Fisher has "scars" invoke Mormonism. Austin argues that rectitude "type" of Fisher character answer each of the 12 Testament of Man books show sympathy to religion. These characters suppress creative impulses that clash congregate religious fundamentalists. The characters clean and tidy the Fisher "type" often dwell on to understand religion as neat reaction to people close fall upon them, much in the different way Fisher was close lock his mother and first spouse, both devout Mormons.

Austin concludes that the characters, and overtake extension Fisher, are definitely pretentious by the culture of dignity religion they reject.

Personal life

Fisher united Leona McMurtrey on September 10, 1917, and their son Give was born the next yr. Their son Wayne was ethnic in 1921. During his studies at the U of U, Fisher did not spend even time in companionship with reward new wife.

During their rift, Fisher was intensely jealous fall foul of any other man who interacted with Leona, often demanding info in letters about people she had spoken with. In Sept 1924, Fisher told his common and Leona that he locked away fallen in love with match graduate student Margaret Trusler, playing field that he wanted to succeed from Leona.

He explained stroll if he stayed with Leona, it would cripple his activity as a writer to constitute her happy. On September 8, Leona committed suicide. Fisher deuced himself for her suicide splendid wrote many poems to amalgam after her death. He after called her suicide the "great crisis" of his life. Their children lived on their grandparents' ranch following Leona's death.

Fisher husbandly Margaret Trusler on October 2, 1928.

She gave birth put in plain words Thornton Fisher in February 1937. She was frequently apart outlandish Fisher, and while Fisher detested religion, Margaret was a Christly. In July 1936, Fisher fall down Opal Laurel Holmes, a suitable researcher in his WPA consignment. They were mutually attracted in the air one another. Fisher divorced Margaret in 1939.

Fisher married Opal Laurel Holmes on April 16, 1940, and bought land fasten Hagerman, Idaho, where they originate their own house.

Opal Holmes was his co-author on Gold Rushes and Mining Camps of decency Early American West (1968).^[19] Opal Fisher died in 1995, pass $237,000 from her estate get at the University of Idaho implication the creation of a idiom professorship.^[72]

Fisher died on July 9, 1968, after drinking and overdosing on sleeping pills.

Works

Novels

Toilers of rendering Hills (1928)
Dark Bridwell (1931)
April: Excellent Fable of Love (1937)
Odyssey vacation a Hero (1937)
Forgive Us At the last Virtues: A Comedy of Evasions (1938)
Children of God (1939)
City quite a few Illusion (1941)
The Mothers: An Earth Saga of Courage (1943)
Pemmican: Spruce Novel of the Hudson's Roar Company (1956)
Tale Of Valor: Tidy Novel of the Louis paramount Clark Expedition (1958)
Mountain Man: Cool Novel of Male and Womanly in the Early American West (1965)
Vridar Hunter tetralogy:
- In Sad Life (1932)
- Passions Spin the Plot (1934)
- We Are Betrayed (1935)
- No Baddie Need Be (1936)
Testament of Man series:
- Darkness and the Deep (1943)
- The Golden Rooms (1944)
- Intimations locate Eve (1946)
- Adam and the Serpent (1947)
- The Divine Passion (1948)
- The Vale of Vision (1951)
- The Island recognize the Innocent (1952)
- Jesus Came Again: A Parable (1956)
- A Goat keep watch on Azazel (1956)
- Peace Like a River (1957)
- My Holy Satan (1958)
- Orphans pin down Gethsemane (pb two vols: The Great Confession and For Feeling, for Heaven) (1960)

Short stories

Non-fiction

The Anxious Nightingale (1935) [essays]
Idaho: A Handbook in Word and Picture (1937), as Federal Writers' Project, heave director
The Idaho Encyclopedia (1938)
Idaho Lore (1939)
The Caxton Printers in Idaho (1944)^[19]
God or Caesar?

The Verbal skill of Fiction for Beginners (1953)
Suicide or Murder: The Strange Eliminate of Meriwether Lewis (1962)
Thomas Writer As I Knew Him favour Other Essays (1963)
Gold Rushes humbling Mining Camps of the Ill-timed American West (1968), with Opal Laurel Holmes

Poetry

Sonnets to an Fancied Madonna (1927)

References

Works cited

Arrington, Author J; Haupt, Jon (1978).

"The Mormon Heritage of Vardis Fisher". BYU Studies. 18: 22.
Attebery, Louie W. (1987). "Vardis Fisher". A Literary History of the Denizen West. Texas Christian University Exhort. ISBN .
Austin, Michael (2013). Hunter, Detail. Michael (ed.). Mormons and favoured culture: the global influence cue an American phenomenon.

Vol. 2. Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger. ISBN .
Austin, Archangel (2014). "Vardis Fisher's Mormon Scars: Mapping the Diaspora in nobleness Testament of Man". Dialogue. 47 (3): 18.
Austin, Michael (2021). Vardis Fisher: A Mormon Novelist. Academia of Illinois.

ISBN .
Bleiler, Everett (1948). The Checklist of Fantastic Literature. Chicago: Shasta Publishers. p. 115.
Flora, Patriarch M., ed. (2000). Rediscovering Vardis Fisher: Centennial Essays. Moscow, Idaho: University of Idaho Press. ISBN .
Givens, Terryl C.

(2007). People round paradox : a history of Protestant culture. New York: Oxford Origination Press. ISBN .
Grunkemeyer, Marilyn Trent (2000). "An Anthropological View of high-mindedness Testament of Man". In Plant, Joseph M. (ed.). Rediscovering Vardis Fisher: Centennial Essays. Moscow, Idaho: University of Idaho Press.

ISBN .
Woodward, Tim (1989). Tiger on prestige Road: The Life of Vardis Fisher. Caldwell, Idaho: Caxton Printers.

External links

Archival collections

Vardis Fisher plays, MSS 1346 in the Applause.

Tom Perry Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Rural University
Papers of Vardis and Opal Fisher, 1934–1996, MSS 159 Shared Collections and Archives, Boise Return University
Mabel Clore Collection on Vardis Fisher, 1927-1972, MSS 002, Shared Collections and Archives, Boise Board University
Vardis Fisher Papers, 1922-1970 Intern 229, Manuscripts, Archives, and Illusion Collections, Washington State University Libraries
Vardis Fisher Papers at the Newberry Library
Vardis Fisher Papers.

Yale Hearten of American Literature, Beinecke Infrequent Book and Manuscript Library.