Robert Cormier

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Not to be confused with Robert Cormier (Colonist).
Robert Edmund Cormier

Born January 17, 1925(1925-01-17)
Leominster, Massachusetts, United States
Died November 2, 2000 (aged 75)
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Occupation Novelist, Journalist
Nationality USA
Writing period 1962 - 2000
Spouse(s) Connie Cormier (1948-2000)
Children Roberta Sullivan
Peter Cormier
Chris Cormier Hayes
Renee Wheeler
Relative(s) Lucien J. Cormier (father)
Irma M. Cormier (mother)

Robert Edmund Cormier (January 17, 1925–November 2, 2000) was an American author, columnist, and newspaper reporter. He is the author of books such as I Am the Cheese, After the First Death, and The Chocolate War, all of which won awards.[1] The Chocolate War was at one point banned from multiple libraries.[2] His books often are concerned with the themes of corruption, betrayal, victimization, and conspiracy. In most of his novels, the protagonists do not win.[3]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Robert Cormier was born to Lucien Cormier and Irma Cormier, in Leominster, Massachusetts, United States,[1] in the French-Canadian section of the town called French Hill. He was the second of eight children. His family moved frequently to afford rent, but never left his hometown. Even when he was much older and owned a summer home, it was still 19 miles away from Leominster.[4] Cormier attended a private Catholic school, St. Cecilia's Parochial School. He began writing when he was in the first grade. He was praised at school for his poetry. He first realized his aspiration to become a writer during his year in 6th grade, when he was encouraged by a nun to write a poem. He attended Leominster High School, graduating as the president of his class. As a freshman at Fitchburg State College, he had his first short story published when a college professor, Florence Conlon, sent one of his stories to The Sign, a national Catholic magazine, without his knowledge for $75.[5] Cormier began his professional writing career scripting radio commercials and went on to become an award-winning journalist. Even though he became widely known, he never stopped writing for his local newspaper, the Fitchburg Sentinel.[6]

[edit] Works

Cormier became a full-time writer after the success of his first novel for teenagers, The Chocolate War, followed by others such as I Am the Cheese and After the First Death. He was concerned with the problems facing young people in modern society, and this concern was reflected in his novels.[7][8] He soon established a reputation as a brilliant and uncompromising writer. Included in his awards is the Margaret A. Edwards Award of the Young Adult Services Division of the American Library Association. This award is presented in recognition of those authors who provide young adults with a window through which they can view the world, and which will help them to grow and understand themselves and their role in society.[5]

In a few of his books, Cormier's hometown of Leominster became the fictional town of Monument, and French Hill became Frenchtown.[7]

[edit] Banning of The Chocolate War

Cover of Cormier's book, The Chocolate War
Cover of Cormier's book, The Chocolate War

Due to its language and sexual references, The Chocolate War has been banned from certain libraries and schools. In addition to language, the book also depicted secret societies and anarchic students.[8] Between 1990 and 2000, it was rated as the fourth most banned book according to the American Library Association.[2] Unlike its predecessor, Cormier's later book Beyond The Chocolate War has not yet made the ALA's most banned list.

[edit] Published works

Listed by publication date

Novels

Collections

  • Eight Plus One (1980)
  • The Moustache (1974)
  • Frenchtown Summer (1999)

Nonfiction

  • I Have Words to Spend (1991)

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Robert Cormier - Biography (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
  2. ^ a b ALA | 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000 (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-01-21.
  3. ^ Robert Cormier - Penguin UK Authors - Penguin UK (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
  4. ^ Robert Cormier Interview (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-01-29.
  5. ^ a b Worchester Area Writers - Robert Cormier - Bio (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-01-19.
  6. ^ Barnes & Noble.com (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-01-25.
  7. ^ a b Robert Cormier | News | Guardian Unlimited Books (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
  8. ^ a b Robert Cormier (HTML). Retrieved on 2008-01-28.

[edit] External links