Date of Birth: July 27, 1908
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Date of Death: May 24, 1996
Biography
Joseph Mitchell was an American writer known for his work with “The New Yorker” magazine, where he contributed for nearly six decades. Born in the small town of Fairmont, North Carolina, Mitchell grew up in a family of farmers. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill but left before graduating to pursue a career in journalism. In 1938, he joined “The New Yorker,” where he became famous for his detailed and empathetic profiles of New York City’s eccentrics and everyday people. His most notable works include collections such as “Up in the Old Hotel” and “The Bottom of the Harbor,” which have earned him a permanent place in the canon of American literature. Mitchell was known for his ability to capture the essence of his subjects, blending reportage with a literary style that brought his characters to vivid life. He continued writing until his death in 1996, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence writers and journalists.
5 Interesting Facts about Joseph Mitchell
1. Joseph Mitchell’s writing career began at the New York World-Telegram, where he covered crime stories.
2. Despite his prolific early output, Mitchell famously experienced writer’s block and published no new work for the last 32 years of his life.
3. His profile of Joe Gould, known as “Joe Gould’s Secret,” is considered one of his masterpieces and was later adapted into a film.
4. Mitchell was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1939.
5. He was known for his meticulous research, often spending months or even years working on a single story.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Joseph Mitchell
1. “I always liked people who knew things, who had a lot of information, people who knew a lot about one thing.”
2. “The best talk is artless, the talk that is simple and unselfconscious.”
3. “I want to preserve a disappearing world, to document the lives of people who otherwise would be forgotten.”
4. “I write about people who seem to me to be in some way or other distinct.”
5. “There never was a story I didn’t feel was worth the effort to write.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Joseph Mitchell’s net worth was estimated to be in the range of $1 million, a considerable sum for a writer in his era.
Children
Joseph Mitchell had two children, Nora Mitchell and Elizabeth Mitchell, with his wife Therese Jacobsen Mitchell.
Relevant Links
1. [Joseph Mitchell on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Mitchell_(writer
3. [Up in the Old Hotel on Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/88057.Up_in_the_Old_Hotel
4. [Joe Gould’s Secret on IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120712/
