J.C. Furnas
Encyclopedia
J.C. Furnas (1906–2001) was an American
freelance writer. He is best known for his article, commissioned for the Reader's Digest
, "---And Sudden Death!" This article brought national attention to the problem of automobile
safety, and is the most-reprinted article in the Digest's history.
His other works include a trilogy of social histories of the United States
, The Americans (covering the period 1570-1914), Great Times (covering the period 1914-1929) and Stormy Weather: Crosslights on the 1930s (which covers the time between the stock market crash and the attack on Pearl Harbor
.)
The Life and Times of the Late Demon Rum purports to be the only "wet" history of the temperance movement
; it covers Temperance from its earliest beginnings late in the eighteenth century up to the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment
and national prohibition
. It is a useful work for those who wish to understand the context within which the temperance and prohibition movements operated; Furnas studies these movements' leaders and neither glosses over their virtues nor their shortcomings.
Two of his books, The Road to Harper's Ferry and Goodbye to Uncle Tom, deal with African American
issues---The Road to Harper's Ferry is an account of John Brown
's raid on Harper's Ferry, which delves into the lives and motivations of the "Secret Six" who gave him a great deal of his support, and Goodbye to Uncle Tom examines how Uncle Tom's Cabin
, both as a novel
and in its many stage
adaptations, has shaped American attitudes towards African Americans and slavery.
In addition to these books, he wrote several books dealing with the South Pacific
, including a biography of Robert Louis Stevenson
, as well as several novels.
He is credited with uncovering the truth behind the Lillian Hellman short story, "Julia," later made into a movie starring Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave. Hellman claimed the story was a true if veiled account drawn from the life of her childhood friend 'Julia," a doctor trained in Vienna as a psychotherapist and an anti-Nazi. In fact, the story was taken from the life of Muriel Gardiner, a friend of J.C. Furnas's wife. He documents the story in his autobiography.
Furnas was born in Indiana
and educated at Harvard University
. During World War II
he served as a war correspondent
; his age, poor vision and Quaker background all combined to keep him from actual military service.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
freelance writer. He is best known for his article, commissioned for the Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest
Reader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
, "---And Sudden Death!" This article brought national attention to the problem of automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
safety, and is the most-reprinted article in the Digest's history.
His other works include a trilogy of social histories of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, The Americans (covering the period 1570-1914), Great Times (covering the period 1914-1929) and Stormy Weather: Crosslights on the 1930s (which covers the time between the stock market crash and the attack on Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
.)
The Life and Times of the Late Demon Rum purports to be the only "wet" history of the temperance movement
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
; it covers Temperance from its earliest beginnings late in the eighteenth century up to the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment
Eighteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Eighteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution established Prohibition in the United States. The separate Volstead Act set down methods of enforcing the Eighteenth Amendment, and defined which "intoxicating liquors" were prohibited, and which were excluded from prohibition...
and national prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
. It is a useful work for those who wish to understand the context within which the temperance and prohibition movements operated; Furnas studies these movements' leaders and neither glosses over their virtues nor their shortcomings.
Two of his books, The Road to Harper's Ferry and Goodbye to Uncle Tom, deal with African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
issues---The Road to Harper's Ferry is an account of John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
's raid on Harper's Ferry, which delves into the lives and motivations of the "Secret Six" who gave him a great deal of his support, and Goodbye to Uncle Tom examines how Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin; or, Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1852, the novel "helped lay the groundwork for the Civil War", according to Will Kaufman....
, both as a novel
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
and in its many stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
adaptations, has shaped American attitudes towards African Americans and slavery.
In addition to these books, he wrote several books dealing with the South Pacific
Oceania
Oceania is a region centered on the islands of the tropical Pacific Ocean. Conceptions of what constitutes Oceania range from the coral atolls and volcanic islands of the South Pacific to the entire insular region between Asia and the Americas, including Australasia and the Malay Archipelago...
, including a biography of Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Stevenson
Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson was a Scottish novelist, poet, essayist and travel writer. His best-known books include Treasure Island, Kidnapped, and Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde....
, as well as several novels.
He is credited with uncovering the truth behind the Lillian Hellman short story, "Julia," later made into a movie starring Jane Fonda and Vanessa Redgrave. Hellman claimed the story was a true if veiled account drawn from the life of her childhood friend 'Julia," a doctor trained in Vienna as a psychotherapist and an anti-Nazi. In fact, the story was taken from the life of Muriel Gardiner, a friend of J.C. Furnas's wife. He documents the story in his autobiography.
Furnas was born in Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
and educated at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served as a war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
; his age, poor vision and Quaker background all combined to keep him from actual military service.