James HurstAuthor of “The Scarlet Ibis”

1922 -

James Hurst Grew up in North Carolina Attended North Carolina State

College Served in the Army during WWII

James Hurst Studied singing at Juilliard School of

Music in New York Wanted to be an opera singer Went to Italy for additional study Abandoned hopes of a music career Worked for 34 years at a large bank

in New York

James Hurst Wrote short stories and plays for

literary magazines “The Scarlet Ibis” was published in

July, 1960 in The Atlantic Monthly Story has appeared in almost every

high-school literature textbook series

James Hurst Today he lives near the farm where

he grew up Wrote “The Scarlet Ibis” to examine:

How conflict between Doodle and Brother relates to war between brothers in Europe

How people suffer when others try to make them over in their own image