by Trisha Navarro

Created on: June 01, 2010   Last Updated: June 02, 2010

Edna Ferber, was born on August 15, 1885 in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Ferber was known as an author and a female protagonist. Her books were basically unique and interesting as during her time, even some of Ferber’s books were found to be in many plays and silent films.

Ferber believed that the most unattractive characters, were the best characters in plays and books and that is what most of her writings were based on. Included in her books contained many different characters and each book had a unique character that most people never thought you could find to put in a book.

The books that Edna had written are as follows: Show Boat, Giant, Ice Palace, Saratoga Trunk, Cimarron (which later on won Ferber her first Oscar and the 1960 remake.

Three of her books were eventually turned into musicals. The books were: Show Boat, Saratoga Trunk and Giant.

Jerome Kern believed that creating Ferber’s book, the Show Boat, into a musical would be something different for his viewers audience and he felt that it would draw more crowds and money. Although, Ferber was quite shocked about what he wanted to do, thinking that he would turn it into a comedy. Later Ferber turned the rights over to Kern allowing him to turn it into a musical. He left everything the same and did not change a thing about her book. Something that Ferber was definitely grateful for.

Besides her writing career, Ferber was also believed to be a member of a group. The name of the group that she was apart of were Algonquin Round Table; in this group, it was known as a group of wits and usually met around lunch time every day. Their place of meeting was at the Algonquin Hotel located in New York City. While keeping her membership in the group, an enemy rose amongst Ferber. Her enemy's name was Alexander Woollcott. It was believed though, that there was a great misunderstanding on why Ferber and Woollcott were even enemies in the first place. Ferber believed that Woollcott was “A New Jersey Nero who has mistaken his pinafore for a toga.”

Ferber never married, but it was believed that she was a lesbian. During her time alive, it has been said that she never had a relationship with anyone of any sex. She spent most of her time writing.  

Ferber later had died at the age of 82 in New York City of stomach cancer.

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