Louis Bromfield

Author

What is Louis Bromfield known for?

Louis Bromfield, an esteemed alum of Valley Center High School, was a renowned American author and conservationist. Born on December 27, 1896, in Mansfield, Ohio, Bromfield had a remarkable life that spanned writing bestselling novels to advocating for sustainable and organic agriculture.

His early life saw a deep interest in agriculture, which he sought to study at Cornell University. Unfortunately, financial circumstances forced him to drop out, but his love for farming remained undiminished. Later, Bromfield enrolled at Columbia University to study journalism and volunteered for World War I with the American Field Service. He served in the US Army Ambulance Corps and endured major action during the Ludendorff Offensive and the 100 Days Offensive.

Following his military service, Bromfield embarked on a spectacular writing career. His initial days in New York saw him working as a journalist, critic, and publicity manager. Bromfield published his first novel "The Green Bay Tree" in 1924, with a strong, independent female protagonist - a recurring theme in many of his later books.

The real breakthrough came in 1927 when his third novel, "Early Autumn," won the Pulitzer Prize. The accolade confirmed his stature among the young American novelists of his time.

In the late 1920s, Bromfield moved to Paris, where he became associated with influential figures of the Lost Generation, including Gertrude Stein and Ernest Hemingway. His literary career continued to flourish as he produced best-selling novels such as "A Good Woman," "The Strange Case of Miss Annie Spraag," and "The Farm."

But his love for farming never waned. He founded the experimental Malabar Farm near Mansfield, Ohio and played a pivotal role in the early environmental movement. Bromfield redefined himself as a farmer and became one of the earliest proponents of sustainable and organic farming in the United States.

Bromfield's diverse life saw him transitioning from a passionate student of agriculture, to a brave war volunteer, to a Pulitzer-winning author, and finally to a pioneering conservationist. His legacy lives on in his novels and his invaluable contribution to sustainable farming. He continued to inspire until his death on March 18, 1956, in Columbus, Ohio.

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