Paul de Kruif
Paul de Kruif was an American microbiologist and prolific science writer, best known for his compelling narrative style that made complex medical topics accessible to the general public. Born in Zeeland, Michigan, in 1890, he earned his B.S. and Ph.D. in bacteriology from the University of Michigan. De Kruif's influential book, *Microbe Hunters* (1926), achieved remarkable success, selling over a million copies and being translated into eighteen languages. This work highlighted the lives and contributions of pioneering microbiologists and was later adapted into a film.
In addition to his literary achievements, de Kruif worked at prestigious institutions such as the Pasteur Institute in Paris and the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research. His writing career flourished after he transitioned to freelance writing in the early 1920s, contributing articles to prominent magazines and collaborating with notable figures, including Sinclair Lewis on the novel *Arrowsmith*. De Kruif's other significant works include *Hunger Fighters* (1928) and collaborations with his second wife, Rhea de Kruif. He passed away in 1971, leaving behind a legacy that bridges science and literature, inspiring readers and scholars alike.
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Paul de Kruif
Writer
- Born: March 2, 1890
- Birthplace: Zeeland, Michigan
- Died: 1971
- Place of death: Holland, Michigan
Biography
Paul de Kruif was a microbiologist who wrote books and magazine articles about medical science. His most successful book, Microbe Hunters (1926), sold more than one million copies, was published in eighteen languages, and was adapted as the movie Dr. Ehrlich’s Magic Bullet.
De Kruif was born in Zeeland, Michigan, in 1890, the son of Hendrik de Kruif, a farm implement dealer, and Hendrika J. Kremer de Kruif. He attended the University of Michigan, where he studied bacteriology and earned a B.S. degree in 1912. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in 1916.
After college, de Kruif was an assistant professor of bacteriology from 1916 to 1917 at the University of Michigan. In 1918, he conducted research at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France. Two years later, de Kruif took a job as an associate in pathology at the Rockefeller Institute for Medical Research in New York City. He resigned in 1922 to become a freelance writer.
In 1922, de Kruif published Our Medicine Men, a collection of his articles that previously appeared in Century magazine. He also published articles in Country Gentlemen, Ladies Home Journal, and Reader’s Digest. De Kruif collaborated with author Sinclair Lewis to provide medical background information for the novel Arrowsmith, published in 1925. Hunger Fighters, published in 1928, was de Kruif’s second best-selling book. With Sidney Howard, he wrote the playYellow Jack, which was produced in 1934 and later adapted as a film and a radio program. He and his second wife, Rhea de Kruif, collaborated on two books, Why Keep Them Alive? (1936) and Life Among the Doctors (1949). De Kruif died in 1971.