Speaking Volumes: Celebrating the birthday of American author James Thurber

On Dec. 8, we recognize the 125th birthday of celebrated American author, illustrator and humorist James Thurber.

Thurber published more than two dozen books of stories and cartoons over his lifetime for both children and adults. In recent years, he’s been best known as the writer of “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” a six-page short story which has been twice adapted as major motion pictures. Thurber is often remembered for his iconic illustrations, which were critiqued as done by very young children or while underwater due to their simple and primitive style. Rather than the result of some gimmick, Thurber’s art reflected the physical challenges he faced.

Thurber’s life and career would be pivotally shaped by a childhood accident. When he was six, his older brother accidentally shot an arrow into Thurber’s left eye during a game of ‘William Tell.’ Due to a lack of medical treatment, Thurber’s injured eye eventually had to be removed and his right eye was severely damaged. Thurber’s eyesight continued to decline throughout his life. His partial blindness prevented him from earning his degree at Ohio State University because he could not pass a required ROTC course. It also kept him from enlisting as a soldier in World War I.

While his failing eyesight initially caused Thurber much grief, it did not prevent his success. In 1926, after spending a few years as a reporter in both his hometown of Columbus and in Paris, Thurber moved to New York City and befriended writer E.B. White. Through this relationship, Thurber found work as the managing editor and a staff writer of a fledgling magazine, the New Yorker.

Thurber spent decades writing essays and short stories as well as drawing illustrations for both the New Yorker and for personal publication. However, by the 1940s, Thurber’s eyesight had deteriorated to near-blindness. Unable to write, he composed stories in his head, remembering and dictating the stories in full for publication. To draw, Thurber used a head-mounted magnifier commonly used in defense plants called a loupe. Despite these challenges, Thurber was increasingly productive. He wrote more books after losing the ability to write than he had when he still had remaining sight. He continued to work until his death on Nov. 2, 1961.

Your Manatee Libraries have Thurber’s 1945 collection of works, “The Thurber Carnival” as well as his memoir, “My Life and Hard Times.” The library also has several of Thurber’s children’s books including “The 13 Clocks” and “Many Moons.” The 2014 documentary on the humorist “James Thurber: The Life and Hard Times,” which features interviews with some of his friends and colleagues, is also available for instant access via the library’s Hoopla digital library.

Call your local branch for more information on available titles.

▪ Central Library — 941-748-5555;

▪ Braden River — 941-727-6079;

▪ Island — 941-778-6341;

▪ Palmetto — 941-722-3333;

▪ Rocky Bluff — 941-723-4821;

▪ South Manatee — 941-755-3892.

You also can access the library via the internet at mymanatee.org/library.

Katie Fleck is a Central Library librarian. Speaking Volumes, written by Manatee County Public Library System staff members, is published each Sunday in the Bradenton Herald.