F. N. Monjo
F. N. Monjo, born Ferdinand "Buster" Nicholas Monjo III on August 28, 1924, in Stamford, Connecticut, was a prominent editor and children’s author known for his historical fiction. His diverse heritage included Spanish fur traders and a family with roots in Mississippi during the Civil War, which influenced his storytelling. Monjo graduated from Columbia University in 1946 and spent much of his career in New York City’s publishing industry, notably as editor in chief for Simon and Schuster's Golden Books and later for American Heritage Press and Harper and Row.
Monjo began his writing career with "Indian Summer" in 1968, exploring pioneer life and interactions with Native Americans. His most famous work, "The Drinking Gourd," published in 1970, addresses the Underground Railroad and earned him the National Book Award in 1974. Monjo's distinctive approach to historical narratives often featured child narrators, aiming to make stories more engaging and accessible for young readers. Over his career, Monjo authored over twenty books, though some, like "Indian Summer," have faced criticism for their portrayal of Native Americans. He passed away on October 9, 1978, leaving a legacy of storytelling that continues to resonate with audiences today.
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F. N. Monjo
- Born: August 28, 1924
- Birthplace: Stamford, Connecticut
- Died: October 9, 1978
Biography
Ferdinand “Buster” Nicholas Monjo III was born August 28, 1924, in Stamford, Connecticut. His father was descended from Spanish fur traders who traded in Alaska, and his mother’s family had lived in Mississippi during the Civil War. From an early age, Monjo enjoyed hearing old family stories, and reading books about history. He also loved to play the piano, an interest reflected in Letters to Horseface (1975), a story about Mozart. He attended Columbia University in New York City, graduating in 1946.
In 1950, Monjo married Louise Elaine Lyczak, a writer and teacher, and the couple had three sons and a daughter. Most of his career was spent as an editor in New York City. From 1953 to 1958, Monjo worked for the publisher Simon and Schuster as editor in chief of the Golden Books. He next worked for the American Heritage Press as editor in chief of that firm’s Junior Library until 1961, as a children’s book editor for Harper and Row, and then at Coward, McCann, and Geoghegan until his death.
Monjo did not write a book himself until Indian Summer, in 1968, the story of a family of pioneers in Kentucky and their encounters with Native Americans. His second book, The Drinking Gourd (1970), is about the Underground Railroad, and became his most enduring. In developing his own style of retelling history, Monjo remembered his own experiences hearing his family tell stories and studying dates and facts in history classes, resolving to focus on characters and narrative rather than dry facts.
Monojo researched each book extensively, often at the New York Society Library. He frequently used a child as a narrator, as he did with Poor Richard in France, a story about Benjamin Franklin told by his grandson. Monjo believed child narrators were more welcoming and reassuring for young readers. He died on October 9, 1978, at the age of fifty-four.
In little more than ten years, Monjo wrote more than twenty books for children, most of them historical fiction. The Drinking Gourd was named an American Library Association Notable Book, and he won the National Book Award in 1974 for Poor Richard in France. Some of his books, including Indian Summer, are today considered too stereotypical in their portrayal of Native Americans, but The Drinking Gourd is still popular and well respected.