My family pleaded with me to forget literature and do something sensible, such as find some sort of useful work

My family pleaded with me to forget literature and do something sensible, such as find some sort of useful work

Lloyd Alexander, the renowned American author of fantasy novels, faced a similar dilemma in his early years. Born in 1924 in Philadelphia, Alexander was raised in a family that valued practicality and hard work. His parents, immigrants from Eastern Europe, had struggled to make a living in the United States and wanted their son to have a stable and secure future.

However, from a young age, Alexander was drawn to the world of literature. He devoured books and spent hours lost in imaginary worlds. His family, seeing his passion for writing, encouraged him to pursue a career in a more practical field. They pleaded with him to forget about literature and find some sort of useful work that would provide him with a steady income.

Despite his family's concerns, Alexander could not ignore his love for storytelling. He continued to write in his spare time, honing his craft and dreaming of becoming a published author. After serving in the military during World War II, Alexander returned to the United States and began working as a cartoonist and advertising writer. While these jobs provided him with a steady income, they did not fulfill his creative aspirations.