Date of Birth: August 9, 1927
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Date of Death: June 15, 2014
Biography
Daniel Keyes was an American author best known for his Hugo Award-winning short story “Flowers for Algernon” and its subsequent novel adaptation. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Keyes initially pursued a career in medicine but shifted to literature, earning a degree in psychology from Brooklyn College. His diverse career included work as an editor, teacher, and writer, with his experience in psychology deeply influencing his literary work. “Flowers for Algernon,” published in 1959 as a short story and expanded into a novel in 1966, explores themes of human intelligence and emotion through the story of Charlie Gordon, a mentally disabled man who undergoes experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. The novel has been adapted into various formats, including a film, a stage play, and a radio drama, cementing Keyes’ place in literary history.
5 Interesting Facts about Daniel Keyes
1. Daniel Keyes initially studied medicine before switching to a degree in psychology.
2. “Flowers for Algernon” won the Hugo Award for Best Short Story in 1960 and the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 1966.
3. Keyes worked as a fiction editor for Marvel Science Stories early in his career.
4. He taught creative writing at Ohio University for many years.
5. Keyes’ background in psychology heavily influenced his writing, particularly in “Flowers for Algernon.”
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Daniel Keyes
1. “I am afraid. Not of life, or death, or nothingness, but of wasting it as if I had never been.”
2. “A child may not know how to feed itself, or what to eat, yet it knows hunger.”
3. “I don’t know what’s worse: to not know what you are and be happy, or to become what you’ve always wanted to be, and feel alone.”
4. “Intelligence and education that hasn’t been tempered by human affection isn’t worth a damn.”
5. “There are a lot of people who will give money or materials, but very few who will give time and affection.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Daniel Keyes’ net worth was estimated to be around $2 million.
Children
Daniel Keyes had two daughters, Leslie and Hillary Keyes.
Relevant Links
1. [Daniel Keyes on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Keyes
4. [Biography on Encyclopedia Britannica](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Daniel-Keyes
