Quentin J. Reynolds
Quentin J. Reynolds was an American journalist and author known for his extensive body of work, including biographies for both adults and children. Born in 1902 in New York City to Irish American parents, he demonstrated athletic prowess and graduated from Brown University with a degree in philosophy in 1924. Reynolds began his career as a sports writer before moving into more prominent roles, including serving as a correspondent in Germany and later as an associate editor for Collier's magazine. He gained notable recognition for his coverage of World War II, which influenced many of his writings, including his best-selling work, *The Wounded Don't Cry*.
Reynolds produced a variety of books covering topics such as aviation, historical military events, and notable figures like Winston Churchill. His career was not without controversy; a significant setback occurred in 1954 when he published a book based on fabricated accounts from a Canadian soldier. Despite this, he continued to engage with prominent social circles and produced diverse writings until his death in 1965 while researching a new project. Reynolds' legacy reflects both his contributions to journalism and the complexities of his personal and professional life.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Quentin J. Reynolds
Journalist
- Born: April 11, 1902
- Birthplace: New York, New York
- Died: March 17, 1965
Biography
American journalist and author Quentin J. Reynolds wrote numerous biographies for adults and children. His books for adults include Courtroom: The Story of Samuel S. Leibowitz (1950), Minister of Death: The Adolf Eichmann Story (1960), and By Quentin Reynolds (1963), an autobiography. His works for a younger audience include The Wright Brothers: Pioneers of American Aviation (1950), Custer’s Last Stand (1951), and Winston Churchill (1963).
Reynolds was born in New York City in 1902, the son of James and Katherine Reynolds, who were of Irish American descent. The son of a high school principal, Reynolds attended Brooklyn public schools and Brooklyn Manual Training High School. He then enrolled at Brown University, where he proved himself adept at football, boxing, and swimming and he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1924. After receiving his degree, Reynolds worked at a variety of jobs, including playing one season of professional football and working for the Brooklyn Times and Evening World. He then enrolled in Brooklyn Law School and earned his law degree in 1931. After graduation, he worked as a sports writer for the New York World Telegram and was later courted by Joseph V. Connolly at International News Service to serve as a correspondent in Germany. He was eventually hired away from International News Service by Collier’s magazine, where his duties would later include serving as associate editor. He married Virginia Peine in 1942.
Reynold’s most significant assignment at Collier’s was covering World War II. Notably, he conducted forums on British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) radio and traveled throughout Europe, gathering experiences that would become the foundation of five of his first six books. Many of these books, including his best-selling personal narrative of the war, The Wounded Don’t Cry (1941), were praised for their depiction of the events of the war but criticized for their lack of analytical depth. Reynolds returned to the United States in 1941 and made a two-week appearance at New York’s Strand Theater, where he described his experiences in the war and expressed his opinion of the conflict. He later returned to Europe to cover pivotal moments of the conflict.
In the two decades after the war, Reynolds produced work on varying topics, including the New York City Police Department and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He became part of Manhattan’s premier social circles, consorting with the likes of writers Dorothy Parker and Damon Runyan. His reputation was severely damaged in 1954 when he published a book about the experiences of a Canadian soldier who, it was later revealed, contrived the stories he told Reynolds. That year, Reynolds also saw the end of a five-year libel suit in which he was accused of, among other things, being a Communist. Reynolds won the case. His eighteen-year marriage ended in divorce, and Reynolds died in 1965 while conducting research on an upcoming book.