Date of Birth: December 8, 1889
Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius
Date of Death: December 28, 1949
Biography
Hervey Allen, born William Hervey Allen Jr., was an influential American author and poet. He was born on December 8, 1889, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Allen is best known for his historical novel “Anthony Adverse,” which became a bestseller and was later adapted into a successful film. Before becoming a full-time writer, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War I and later worked as a university professor and a high school teacher. His literary career began with poetry, and he published several collections before turning to novels. He also worked on a multi-volume biography of Edgar Allan Poe, which remained unfinished at his death. Allen passed away on December 28, 1949, in Miami, Florida.
5 Interesting Facts about Hervey Allen
1. Hervey Allen served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War I.
2. His novel “Anthony Adverse” was a major success and stayed on the bestseller list for over two years.
3. Allen’s unfinished biography of Edgar Allan Poe was intended to be a comprehensive multi-volume work.
4. He was an influential figure in the Southern Renaissance, a literary movement in the early 20th century.
5. Before his writing career took off, Allen taught English literature at the University of Pittsburgh and Charleston High School in West Virginia.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Hervey Allen
1. “A lifetime isn’t long enough to live all that one has to live.”
2. “History is the action and reaction of these two, nature and thought—two boys pushing each other on the curbstone of the pavement.”
3. “Life is always better than the dream.”
4. “True glory consists in doing what deserves to be written, in writing what deserves to be read.”
5. “The essence of greatness is the perception that virtue is enough.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Hervey Allen’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million, adjusted for inflation.
Children
Hervey Allen had three children: William Hervey Allen III, Richard Drake Allen, and Mariette Lee Allen.
Relevant Links
1. [Wikipedia – Hervey Allen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hervey_Allen
2. [Biography – Hervey Allen on Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52676.Hervey_Allen
3. [National Book Foundation – Hervey Allen](https://www.nationalbook.org/people/hervey-allen/
4. [Find a Grave – Hervey Allen](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/6873151/hervey-allen
