Arthur Bowie Chrisman

Arthur Bowie Chrisman was an American author of children's literature, best remembered for his imaginative storytelling inspired by Chinese folklore. Born in Clarke County, Virginia, in 1889, Chrisman received his early education in a local one-room schoolhouse. He later attended the Virginia Polytechnic Institute from 1906 to 1908, though he chose to leave the institution at the end of his sophomore year to pursue other paths.

Chrisman achieved significant literary recognition with his 1925 debut collection, Shen of the Sea: A Book for Children. This compilation of sixteen humorous and moral short stories, styled after traditional Chinese folktales, was awarded the prestigious Newbery Medal in 1926. He followed this success with several other works, including The Wind That Wouldn't Blow: Stories of the Merry Middle Kingdom for Children, and Myself in 1927, a historical volume titled Clarke County, 1836–1936 in 1936, and another collection of Eastern-inspired folklore, Treasures Long Hidden: Old Tales and New Tales of the East, in 1941.

In his later years, Chrisman struggled with chronic respiratory issues, prompting a move to Arkansas around 1943. He adopted an increasingly reclusive lifestyle, residing in a remote, one-room cabin in Shirley, Arkansas. He passed away in February 1953, living in relative isolation until his death.