Barbara Mark

Mark Harris, born Mark Harris Finkelstein, was an American author and educator who lived from 1922 to 2007. He is primarily remembered for his quartet of baseball novels featuring the character Henry Wiggen, most notably "Bang the Drum Slowly." Harris began his career in journalism before pursuing higher education, eventually earning a doctorate and embarking on a long teaching career at various universities, including San Francisco State College and Arizona State University. His writing extended beyond baseball fiction to include other novels, critical essays, biographies, and autobiographical works. Despite "Bang the Drum Slowly" being his most commercially successful book, many of his other novels also received critical praise. Harris viewed his work as exploring the individual's struggle for identity and success within society.

Born Mark Harris Finkelstein in Mount Vernon, New York, Harris adopted his professional name after high school, citing difficulties faced by individuals with Jewish surnames during that era. His early experiences, including a period of journalism and a difficult stint in the U.S. Army during World War II, significantly influenced his writing. His wartime experiences, marked by opposition to war and racial discrimination, formed the basis for early novels like "Trumpet to the World" and "Something About a Soldier." Harris himself articulated a core theme in his work: "they are about the one man against his society and trying to come to terms with his society, and trying to succeed within it without losing his own identity or integrity." This perspective suggests a deep exploration of the individual's place and struggle within societal structures.

Harris achieved significant recognition for his quartet of baseball novels: "The Southpaw" (1953), "Bang the Drum Slowly" (1956), "A Ticket for a Seamstitch" (1957), and "It Looked Like Forever" (1979). These books, chronicling the life of pitcher Henry "Author" Wiggen, are credited with elevating the baseball novel to an art form. "Bang the Drum Slowly" achieved particular success, adapted into both a television production starring Paul Newman and a major motion picture. While this novel was his most popular, many of his other works, including "Wake Up, Stupid" and "Killing Everybody," were critically acclaimed. Beyond fiction, Harris was a prolific biographer, editing works by Vachel Lindsay and James Boswell, and writing biographies of Lindsay and Saul Bellow. He also penned three autobiographical books, offering insights into his personal journey.

Parallel to his writing career, Mark Harris maintained a distinguished academic path. After earning his doctorate in 1956, he became a college lecturer, teaching English and creative writing at institutions such as San Francisco State College, Purdue University, and Arizona State University until his retirement in 2001. His academic role provided a stable foundation for his literary pursuits. Beyond novels and biographies, Harris contributed numerous critical essays and articles, demonstrating a broad engagement with literature and its criticism. His edited volumes, such as Vachel Lindsay's "Selected Poems" and James Boswell's "Heart of Boswell," showcase his scholarly interests and his dedication to preserving and presenting significant literary works.

“they are about the one man against his society and trying to come to terms with his society, and trying to succeed within it without losing his own identity or integrity.”