John O'Hara, American author, playwright, and screenwriter (d. 1970)

John Henry O'Hara (January 31, 1905 – April 11, 1970) was an exceptionally prolific American writer, particularly celebrated for his short stories. He is widely credited with playing a pivotal role in shaping the distinctive short story style that became synonymous with The New Yorker magazine, a style characterized by its concise prose, sophisticated urban settings, and a keen focus on dialogue and subtle human insights. O'Hara achieved significant commercial success as a novelist early in his career, becoming a best-selling author before the age of 30 with acclaimed works such as Appointment in Samarra (1934) and BUtterfield 8 (1935), which delved into themes of social climbing, moral decline, and the complexities of American life during the Jazz Age and Prohibition era.

While John O'Hara enjoyed considerable popularity during his lifetime, his overall literary legacy remains a subject of ongoing debate among critics and scholars. Despite this, his most ardent champions consistently rank him among the major American writers of the 20th century who are often seen as under-appreciated or unjustly neglected. A significant factor contributing to his relative obscurity among college students educated after his passing in 1970 stems from his steadfast refusal to allow his work to be reprinted in the literary anthologies commonly used for teaching literature at the university level. This firm stance, perhaps reflecting his strong personal convictions, inadvertently limited his exposure to new generations of readers and academics.

Lorin Stein, the editor-in-chief of the esteemed *Paris Review*, offered a compelling perspective in a 2013 appreciation of O'Hara's work, stating, "O’Hara may not have been the best story writer of the twentieth century, but he is the most addictive." Stein further elaborated on this unique appeal, suggesting, "You can binge on his collections the way some people binge on Mad Men, and for some of the same reasons. On the topics of class, sex, and alcohol—that is, the topics that mattered to him—his novels amount to a secret history of American life." Indeed, O'Hara’s writing distinguished itself from many of his contemporaries through its unvarnished realism. He meticulously documented the nuances of social class, ambition, and moral decay, presenting characters with a directness often deemed stark or even brutal. His exceptional ear for dialogue and precise observation of detail created highly authentic portrayals of mid-20th century American society.

O'Hara's work also found success beyond the page, with five of his novels adapted into popular films during the 1950s and 1960s, notably including *Pal Joey* (1957), a musical drama starring Frank Sinatra, and *BUtterfield 8* (1960), which earned Elizabeth Taylor an Academy Award for Best Actress. However, O'Hara accumulated a notable number of detractors, largely due to his formidable and easily bruised ego, his reputation for alcoholic crankiness, deeply held resentments, and politically conservative views in the 1960s that were often unfashionable within mainstream literary circles. Following O'Hara's death, acclaimed author John Updike, a self-professed admirer of his writing, mused that the immensely prolific author "out-produced our capacity for appreciation; maybe now we can settle down and marvel at him all over again." This sentiment underscores the idea that a rediscovery of John O'Hara's vast body of work may still be underway.

Frequently Asked Questions About John O'Hara

What made John O'Hara a significant American writer?
John O'Hara was a prolific American author, celebrated for his short stories and novels. He was instrumental in defining The New Yorker magazine's short story style, known for its concise urban realism. His early bestsellers like Appointment in Samarra and BUtterfield 8 cemented his status as a major voice of his time, offering an "unvarnished realism" that explored themes of class, sex, and alcohol in American life.
Why is John O'Hara considered by some to be an "addictive" writer?
According to *Paris Review* editor Lorin Stein, O'Hara's writing is "addictive" because of his compelling and unflinching exploration of "the topics that mattered to him"—class, sex, and alcohol—which together offer what Stein calls a "secret history of American life." His detailed observations and authentic dialogue create a deeply immersive reading experience.
What are some of John O'Hara's most famous works?
Some of John O'Hara's most famous works include the novels Appointment in Samarra (1934) and BUtterfield 8 (1935). He also wrote hundreds of short stories, many of which appeared in The New Yorker, earning him widespread acclaim for his mastery of the form. Several of his works, such as *Pal Joey* and *BUtterfield 8*, were also adapted into successful films.
Why is John O'Hara less known by contemporary college students?
A primary reason for John O'Hara's reduced visibility in contemporary academia is his personal refusal to allow his works to be reprinted in college-level literary anthologies after his death in 1970. This decision, while perhaps rooted in his strong convictions, inadvertently limited his exposure to new generations of students and scholars in educational settings.
How did John O'Hara's personal life affect his literary reputation?
John O'Hara's strong personality, including an "outsized and easily bruised ego," "alcoholic crankiness," and "long-held resentments," contributed to his accumulation of detractors. Additionally, his politically conservative views in the 1960s were often unfashionable in literary circles, which some believe also influenced the debate surrounding his post-humous literary standing.