Robert Wilder

Who was Robert Wilder?

Robert Ingersoll Wilder was an American novelist, playwright and screenwriter.

Wilder was born in Richmond, Virginia, the son of a minister-turned-lawyer-turned-doctor-turned-dentist who was still going to college when his son was born. Wilder's childhood was spent at Daytona Beach, Florida. Following a stint in the U.S. Army during World War I, he was educated at Stetson University and Columbia University. At various times in his life, Mr. Wilder was a soda jerk, a ship fitter, a theater usher, a shipping clerk, a newspaper copyboy, a publicity agent, a radio executive, and a journalist.

Mr. Wilder traveled widely and contributed stories to The New Yorker, among other magazines. He was author of two plays, Sweet Chariot, based on the life and career of African-American activist Marcus Garvey, and Stardust, both produced on Broadway. He also wrote the screenplay for the epic Western, The Big Country, in 1958.

Wind from the Carolinas is his only book currently in print.

Mr. Wilder was married and had a son.