Percy Marks was an American novelist and academic whose literary career was defined by his vivid, often controversial depictions of youth culture in the 1920s. Born in Covelo, California, in 1891, Marks pursued higher education at the University of California, graduating in 1912, before earning a master's degree from Harvard University in 1914. After serving as a second lieutenant in the United States Army during World War I, he embarked on a decade-long career teaching English at prestigious institutions, including Dartmouth College and Brown University.
Marks achieved sudden literary stardom in 1924 with the publication of his debut novel, The Plastic Age. Drawing on his observations as a college instructor, the book offered a candid portrayal of contemporary campus life, complete with its social pressures, romance, and rebellion. The novel became the second best-selling book of the year, sparking widespread public debate and even facing a ban in Boston due to its provocative themes. Its massive success prompted Marks to leave his teaching career the following year to write full-time. The novel was subsequently adapted into two films, including a 1925 silent film starring Clara Bow and a 1928 adaptation titled Red Lips.
Over the course of his career, Marks authored nineteen additional books, primarily focusing on fiction. Although he spent years as a full-time writer, he eventually returned to academia later in life, teaching English and literature at the University of Connecticut at Waterbury. He lived in New Haven, Connecticut, from 1930 until his death in 1956. Today, his personal and professional papers are preserved at Yale University's Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library.
