Susan Glaspell, a pioneering dramatist, novelist, and short story writer, was born on July 1, 1876, in Davenport, Iowa. Her early life set the stage for a remarkable career that would bridge journalism and creative writing. Glaspell’s work often reflected the social milieu of her time, making her a noteworthy figure in American literature.

Early Life and Education

Glaspell hailed from one of the first families to settle in Davenport, Iowa. After completing high school in 1894, she embarked on a career in journalism, working for the Davenport Morning Republican and the Davenport Weekly Outlook. It was at the Outlook where she penned a "Social Life" column and published her debut short story. In 1897, Glaspell pursued higher education at Drake University in Des Moines, immersing herself in philosophy and excelling in debating. While there, she contributed short stories to the university's publication, The Delphic, and served as the literary editor of the school newspaper.

Transition to Fiction

After earning her degree in 1899, Glaspell joined the Des Moines Daily News as a columnist for "The News Girl." She relinquished this position in 1901 to return to Davenport, focusing her efforts on fiction writing. Over the next several decades, Glaspell produced numerous acclaimed short stories, exploring themes reminiscent of those in her journalistic work. Her literary journey included a brief stint in Chicago, working for the Chicago Daily Review and undertaking graduate studies in English at the University of Chicago. Her first novel, The Glory of the Conquered: The Story of a Great Love, published in 1909, became a best-seller. She went on to write several more successful novels, such as Fidelity (1915), Fugitive’s Return (1929), Ambrose Holt and Family (1931), and Judd Rankin’s Daughter (1945).

Provincetown Players and Dramatic Works

With the publication of Lifted Masks in 1912, Glaspell showcased her talent for local-color writing through a collection of short stories. The following year, she married George Cram Cook, a classics scholar with a reputation for challenging societal norms. Together, they moved to Provincetown, Massachusetts, spending summers there and winters in New York City. In 1915, Cook established the Provincetown Players, a groundbreaking theater group that premiered Glaspell’s first plays, including one-act productions like Suppressed Desires and Trifles. Glaspell’s plays, including The People, Close the Book, and Woman’s Honor, were integral contributions to this innovative theater company, with her participation extending to acting as well.

Evolution of a Playwright

During its seven-year run, the Provincetown Players staged over a hundred plays, eleven of which were penned by Glaspell. In 1916, she introduced Eugene O’Neill to the group, and together with Cook, they expanded their theatrical endeavors by opening the Macdougal Street Playwright’s Theater in Greenwich Village, known as the Provincetown Playhouse. This venue became a winter hub for their productions. By the late 1910s, Glaspell was celebrated as one of the leading playwrights of the time, alongside O’Neill. Her storytelling prowess was equally evident in some of her finest short stories, such as “Government Goat,” “The Busy Duck,” and “The Hearing Ear.”

Later Years and Literary Revival

Eventually, Cook felt the Provincetown Players were becoming too commercial, prompting him and Glaspell to sever ties with the theater and relocate to Greece in 1922. After Cook’s untimely death from a rare illness two years later, Glaspell returned to the U.S. and entered into a relationship with Norman Matson, a younger novelist and playwright. She authored The Road to the Temple in 1926, a biography chronicling Cook’s life. Glaspell and Matson collaborated on the play The Comic Artist in 1927, though it did not...