Wilmer Lardner (Ring(gold))

American journalist and novelist. Born in Michigan. He started out as a sports reporter in large cities in the north. In his collection of short stories, "You Know Me, Al" (1916), he wrote about the world of baseball in a concise style using unique slang, and gained fame as a popular writer. In his collections of short stories, "How to Write a Short Story" (1924) and "The Love Nest" (1926), he portrayed the ordinariness, wickedness, and stupidity of average people, including boxers, baseball players, salesmen, stockbrokers, songwriters, and actresses, using their colloquial language and with his unique irony and satire. He was praised by contemporary critic Mencken, author of "The American Language," as a master of words and a writer who recorded the diverse aspects of American English, and attracted attention. His style, which contains moral criticism and is rich in humor and satire, is highly regarded.

[Iwase has full knowledge]

"I'm a Rookie Pitcher" translated by Masao Nakamura (1961, Chikuma Shobo)" ▽ "Champion" edited and translated by Masaru Otake (1964, Arachi Publishing)" ▽ "Big City" translated by Shozo Kashima (1974, Shinshokan)

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

アメリカのジャーナリスト、小説家。ミシガン州出身。最初スポーツ記者として北部の大都市で活躍。短編集『僕を知ってるね、アル君』（1916）で、野球の世界を独特な俗語を駆使して、簡潔な文体で描き、大衆作家としての名声を得た。短編集『短編小説の書き方』（1924）や『愛の巣』（1926）では、拳闘(けんとう)選手、野球選手、セールスマン、株屋、作詞家、女優ら、平均的人間のもつ平凡さ、邪悪さ、愚かさを、彼らの口語を駆使し、独特の皮肉と風刺で描いた。『アメリカの言語』の著者である同時代の評論家メンケンから、ことばの達人、アメリカ英語の多様な姿を記録した作家として評価され注目を浴びた。道徳的批判を内に秘め、ユーモアと風刺の味わい深い作風は評価が高い。

［岩瀬悉有］

『中村雅男訳『おれは駆けだし投手』（1961・筑摩書房）』▽『大竹勝編訳『チャンピオン』（1964・荒地出版社）』▽『加島祥造訳『大都会』（1974・新書館）』

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