Early Childhood
Shel Silverstein was born on September 25, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois to Nat and Helen Silverstein. His mother was a homemaker while his father was an accountant who wrote songs and drew cartoons as a pastime. They had two other children, Nachman, who was five years older, and Barbara, who was two years younger than Shel. Shel was a creative and mischievous boy who loved drawing and writing stories the most. His parents encouraged him to pursue his creativity and supported his pursuits without fail. He was especially close with his father and even illustrated some of his father’s songs. His early life was quite turbulent with the death of his mother in 1939 when he was only nine years old.
Shel attended the Hollywood School for grades 1-4, and then eventually moved to the Hirsch Metropolitan High School, graduating in 1948. He later studied art for two semesters at the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. Despite his parents’ support, Shel was always seen as mischievous and often got into trouble in school as well. Even at such a young age he wrote a book of short stories called Fresh Air. It was during this time, that Shel also started gaining recognition and fame for his writings, being awarded a high school poetry prize in 1947.
Military Service
After high school, Shel decided to enlist in the army, serving between the years of 1951-1953 during the Korean War. He was posted to Japan and was tasked with producing animated and instructional films. This experience helped him a great deal with honing his skills as an artist and a writer. Shel was deeply affected by his experience in the war, including the harsh realities and horrors of life from the frontlines, as well as the death of a close friend during the Battle of Pusan Perimeter. After his recruitment ended, Shel took a job as an artist for the City Sun newspaper in Chicago for a brief time.
Writing Career
Shel Silverstein’s writing career started in the year 1957 when he was 27 years old. He was asked by acclaimed cartoonist Hugh Hefner to draw cartoons for his magazine, Playboy. Soon enough, Shel’s work was soon being published in various other popular magazines like The Saturday Evening Post, Look, True and Harper’s Bazaar. His illustrations also began appearing in a number of books, including ‘One Thousand and One Arabian Nights’.He illustrated a number of his own stories during this time, some of which were published in 1957 in the infamous collection of short stories, ‘Twistablood and Cinderilla’.
It was in 1963, however, that Shel truly gained the reputation he deserved as an author and illustrator, with the publication of his collection of poems for children, ‘Where the Sidewalk Ends’. The book was an instant success, selling millions of copies and winning Shel a number of awards, as well as a Grammy nomination for best album from a children’s book. This was followed by his books ‘The Giving Tree’ and ‘A Light In The Attic’ both of which made him a household name in the literary world.
Musical Career
Shel, however, always had a passion for music and he never gave up on it no matter what. He wrote numerous songs and was even a decent guitar player. He also had a short stint with comedy as well, and released a folk album called ‘The Great Conch Train Robbery’ in 1968. It was followed by a second album called ‘The Older I Get, The Better I Was’ which was released two years later.
In the year 1973, Shel was praised for writing the lyrics and music for the movie ‘Who is Harry Kellerman and Why is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?Ironically, he also wrote a Broadway musical called ‘The Lady and The Tiger’ which also went on to win him a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award.
Later Life
Shel Silverstein went on to write several other books, most notably ‘Where the Sidewalk Ends’, ‘A Giraffe and a Half’ and ‘The Missing Piece’. He spent his later years living mostly in his home country, Ireland. He passed away on 16th May 1999 in Key West, Florida due to a massive heart attack at the age of 68.
Influence and Legacy
Shel Silverstein’s influence and legacy on the literary world has been immense. He was instrumental in revolutionizing children’s writing, in particular his use of imaginative and poetic language that resonated with children of all ages. He opened the door for other authors and illustrators, who now write about topics that are considered taboo in society, such as death or grief.
Shel’s books are still extremely popular and are read by children and adults alike. His influence is still felt in the world, through his witty and often whimsical stories, poems and illustrations. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest authors of the 20th century, and his work is often cited as an example of how literature can be both entertaining and meaningful at the same time.
Style of Writing
Shel Silverstein’s writing style was unique and often poetic. His poems were known for their wit, playfulness and creative use of language. He wrote mostly in a free verse style, often incorporating a variety of forms, such as rhyme, alliteration, assonance and consonance. He was also known for his use of dark humor and absurdist elements, which often made his work both controversial and captivating.
He was also known for creating memorable characters with distinct personalities, such as the giving tree in his book ‘The Giving Tree’ and the old woman with the squeezer from his poem ‘The Squeezer’. His use of metaphor was extremely effective and resonated with readers of all ages, teaching them important lessons about life.
Contributions to Popular Culture
Shel Silverstein’s work has been adapted into numerous films, television shows and plays over the years. His poem ‘The Giving Tree’ even inspired the hit song ‘Give The World To You’ by the band Soul Asylum, while famous singers like Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks have adapted his songs into popular staples in the country music world. His hit songs ‘A Boy Named Sue’ and ‘25 Minutes To Go’ were also featured in the animated series Adventure Time. Shel also wrote two episodes of the classic sitcom ‘The Monkees’.
Shel’s work has also been adapted for the stage. In 2011, his works were adapted into a musical revue called ‘Shel’s Shorts’. It featured his hit songs and poems, such as ‘Wild Things’, ‘The Giving Tree’ and ‘Where the Sidewalk Ends’. The musical was incredibly successful, garnering critical acclaim and several awards, such as the 2006 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical.
Conclusion
Shel Silverstein was a groundbreaking artist, poet and author who changed the way people think about literature. His legacy is still alive today, inspiring and entertaining people all around the world. Through his unique writing style and powerful characters, he taught us important lessons about
