Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Author of 'The Yearling,' Pulitzer Prize winner
Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (August 8, 1896 – May 14, 1953) was an American author whose works became landmarks in American literature, particularly for her authentic portrayal of rural Florida life. Born in Washington, D.C., Rawlings initially worked as a journalist before moving to Cross Creek, Florida, in 1928, where she established herself as a writer. Her masterpiece, 'The Yearling' (1938), won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1939 and remains widely read in schools across America. The novel tells the coming-of-age story of a boy and his pet deer in the Florida wilderness, capturing the struggles and beauty of frontier life. Beyond this iconic work, Rawlings wrote numerous short stories, essays, and other novels including 'South Moon Under' and 'Cross Creek,' the latter a memoir of her life in rural Florida. Her vivid, lyrical prose style and deep connection to the natural world influenced generations of American writers. Rawlings was known for her passionate engagement with her adopted homeland and her commitment to authenticity in depicting working-class and rural characters, making her a pioneering voice in American regionalist literature.
Arts & Literature
American
1896
1953
Thinking about the name
Margorie
Greek origin
“A Scottish variant of Margaret, derived from the Greek Margarites, meaning 'pearl.' Margorie carries the gem-like qualities of its root while adding a distinctly Scottish flair with the -ie ending that softens the classic Margaret. This spelling evokes early 20th-century Scottish identity and vintage charm.”