James Forbes

Felicia Hardison Londre (University of Missouri, Kansas City)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 3.2.3: American (US) Writing and Culture: The Early Twentieth-century , 1900-1945.
Vol. editors: J. Michael Duvall (College of Charleston), Emory Elliott (University of California, Riverside), Dale Enggass (University of Utah), Matthew Hofer (University of New Mexico), Stephen E. Meats (Pittsburg State University), Tony Papanikolas (San Jose State University), Justin Parks (UiT - The Arctic University of Norway), Nick Selby (University of East Anglia)

Dates

Born 2 Sep 1871
Died 26 May 1938
Activity 1900-1938

Places

Born in Canada
Active in United States

Activities

Primary

Playwright / Dramatist

Other

Essayist
Film/TV Script-writer/ Screenwriter
Literary Critic/ Historian

Resources

Forbes' Works

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James Forbes was a respected playwright in the 1920s, but his work has long been neglected and forgotten, as commercial light comedy rarely weathers cultural climate change. However, his 1919 play

The Famous Mrs. Fair

preserves a fascinating glimpse into the attitude adjustments required of both men and women in the wake of American participation in the Great War along with the massive entry of women into the workforce.

James Grant Forbes was born on 2 September 1871 in Salem, Ontario, Canada, the son of James Reid and Clementina (Erskine) Forbes. Following his studies at Collegiate Institute in Galt, Ontario, he came to the United States in his teens and became a naturalized citizen at twenty-one. His early career comprised two seasons (1894-96) as an actor in Chicago, stints as drama

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2084 words

Citation: Londre, Felicia Hardison. "James Forbes". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 25 November 2009 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=12647, accessed 25 November 2024.]