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Lillian Hellman

Lillian Hellman

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Page 1: Lillian Hellman

Lillian Hellman

Page 2: Lillian Hellman

Biography • Born In New Orleans,

Louisiana in 1905

• Moved back and forth

from New Orleans and

New York when she was

young

Page 3: Lillian Hellman

Biography

• Attended Columbia University and New York University

• Following college, she worked for a publishing house where she witnessed the lifestyle of both an artist and a writer

• Married New Yorker writer Arthur Kober in 1925

Page 4: Lillian Hellman

Biography • Worked as a manuscript reader for a

publishing company, Liveright Publishers

• Worked as a writer for the Herald Tribune

• Worked as a main play reader for Herman Shumlin, a well known producer

• Divorced her husband in 1932 after meeting Dashiell Hammett

• Marriage to Dashiell Hammett lasted 30 years

Page 5: Lillian Hellman

“The Children’s Hour”

Page 6: Lillian Hellman

Major Works • First Work- “The Children’s Hour.” The

accomplishments this play received gave her a successful role in the writing world as it was based on a true story in Scotland

• After her next play “Days to Come” was not as successful as the first, she left and traveled to Europe

• Studied the Spanish Civil War alongside Earnest Hemingway which led to her next play, “The Little Foxes.” This play was considered to be one of the most inspirational play in the history of American theatre.

Page 7: Lillian Hellman

Major Works/Biography

• In addition to her theatre work, she also had three memoirs, about her real life experiences. These included “An Unfinished Woman,” “Pentimento: A Book of Portraits,” and “Scoundrel Time”

• Died on June 30, 1984 in Martha’s Vineyard after facing health issues, including blindness

Page 8: Lillian Hellman

Awards and Honors

Page 9: Lillian Hellman

Awards and Honors • Received the New York City Critics

Award for “Watch on Rhine,” which was written during World War II.

• Won her second New York Critics award for “Toys in the Attic” a play about tragic love

• Received the New York Critics Circle Award in 1941 and 1960

Page 10: Lillian Hellman

Awards and Honors • Given the Gold Medal Award from

the Academy of Arts and Letters for Distinguished Achievement in Theatre in 1964

• Chosen for the Theatre Hall of Fame in 1973

• Received the National Book Award for, “An Unfinished Woman,” and “Pentimento: A Book of Portraits”

Page 11: Lillian Hellman

Themes • Lillian Hellman wrote

plays with vivid characters, strong dialogue, and a moralistic tone. One of her most important themes was that good people must actively oppose evil or disaster will ensue.

Page 12: Lillian Hellman

Themes • She explored highly

controversial themes, with many of her plays reflecting her outspoken political and social views

• Traveling to Nazi Germany in 1929, Lillian Hellman learned of fascism and anti-Semitism, themes in her later work

Page 13: Lillian Hellman

Video “The Little Foxes”

• “The Little Foxes” is the most popular piece of drama by Lillian Hellman

• It tells a story of family greed and revenge

• http://youtu.be/AfIVKdTQ-Uk

Page 14: Lillian Hellman

Sources • "Lillian Hellman." IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 09 Sept. 2012.

<http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0375484/bio>.

• "World Biography." Lillian Hellman Biography. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Sept. 2012. <http://www.notablebiographies.com/He-Ho/Hellman-Lillian.html>.

• "Lillian Hellman." PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 09 Sept. 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/lillian-hellman/about-lillian-hellman/628/>.

• Lillian Hellman http://alabamaliterarymap.lib.ua.edu/author?AuthorID=44 • Lillian Hellman Biography http://www.notablebiographies.com/He-

Ho/Hellman-Lillian.html • Lillian Hellman

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/writers20th/p/lillian_hellman.htm • Pictures: Google pictures • Video: http://youtu.be/AfIVKdTQ-Uk