- Born
- Died
- Birth nameMary Jessamyn West
- Jessamyn West was born on July 18, 1902 in Vernon, Indiana, USA. She was a writer, known for The Big Country (1958), Stolen Hours (1963) and Friendly Persuasion (1956). She was married to Harry Maxwell McPherson. She died on February 22, 1984 in Napa, California, USA.
- SpouseHarry Maxwell McPherson(1923 - ?)
- Second cousin of President Richard M. Nixon. The character of Jess Birdwell in Friendly Persuasion (1956) (played by Gary Cooper ) was based on their great grandfather.
- Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 864-865. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
- A rattlesnake that doesn't bite teaches you nothing.
- Fiction reveals truth that reality obscures.
- On truth: We want the facts to fit the preconceptions. When they don't, it is easier to ignore the facts than to change the preconceptions.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content