Authors: Edna Ferber
So Big (37 page)
Given its critical and commercial triumph, it was inevitable that Hollywood would adapt
So Big
into a movie. But the novel's narrative success has not translated so well to the screen, despite three attempts. The first was a 1925 silent film starring Colleen Moore. Barbara Stanwyck assayed the role of Selina in William Wellman's 1932 film, Jane Wyman in Robert Wise's 1953 remake. Ferber herself called the first two efforts “very bad indeed.”
After
So Big,
Ferber's next novel was
Show Boat,
which proved even more popular and enduring. While she would never again win a Pulitzer for one of her novels, she lived and wrote for another forty-two years. Her prolific output as novelist, short story writer, and playwright proved to have great popular appeal around the world, making her among the most commercially successful writers of her day.
T
HE
YEAR
1925 was a prize-winning one for Edna Ferber. The Pulitzer was given to her for her 1924 novel,
So Big.
It was not quite won on the book's merit alone. There was a go-betweenâa self-appointed courier who brought affection to business. His name was William Allen White, editor-in-chief of the fabled liberal newspaper,
The Emporia Gazette
and devoted friend of Ferber's. He also happened to be one of the judges of the coveted prize. His quest for Ferber's Pulitzer unfolded in a series of letters to the other members of the committee.
January 27, 1925:
“My dear Frank [F. N. Doubleday, president of Doubleday, Page & Co.]: Is Edna Ferber's
So Big
entered in the Pulitzer contest? I am one of the judges of that contest . . . and want to know if it has been formally entered. Sincerely yours, W. A. White.”
February 2, 1925:
“Dear Mr. Fackenthall: Is Edna Ferber's
So Big
on the list of novels entered for the Pulitzer Prize? I don't see it on the list submitted to me. I should certainly think that it should go in the first nine anyway . . . Sincerely yours, W. A. White.”
March 7, 1925:
“My dear Mr. Firkins: I have been looking over the novels of the Pulitzer Contest. . . My judgment is that everything considered, Edna Ferber's
So Big
is the best of the lot. . . Sincerely, W. A. White.”
March 9, 1925:
“Dear Dr. Fletcher: I feel somewhat as you do about the novels in the Pulitzer Prize contest. I believe I listed a few in a letter the other dayânotably
So Big,
Plume's and Hergesheimer's novels, which might be possible winners. But on the other hand, I wouldn't insist that either of those were an outstanding book, though I believe that
So Big
is a thing which tremendously needs to be said. If you and Mr. Perkins feel that the award should be abrogated for this year, I don't feel strongly enough for
So Big
to make any serious objection.
“I am, however, a little bit fearful that our refusal to make an award will be misunderstood. The question will arise then: What becomes of the money? Will it be a two-thousand award next year or will it go into the principal, or what?. . . sincerely, W. A. White.”
William White is in the top row, second from the left. Edna Ferber is in the front row, second from the right, next to her mother, on the far right.
At this point, O. W. Firkins seemed to be a little nervous about the situation as admits to White that he has not even read one of the contenders.
March 9, 1925:
Dear Mr. White: It is certainly time for us to get together, since the time limit is March 15th, only six days hence . . . I have not even seen
So Big,
but if you put it first, we ought all to read it. . . As for the other books . . . I prefer
Balisand. . .
Between you and me, agreement should not be difficult; of Mr. Fletcher's feelings I know only that he likes none of the books well and is half disposed to renounce the project of award. Very truly yours, O. W. Firkins
March 11, 1925:
“Dear Mr. Firkins: I am sending you on this mail a copy of
So Big.
I wish you would give it a careful reading. It is nothing in its favor to tell you that it has been on the list of Best Sellers in America for the last ten months but that does indicate something in the way of appreciation of the average man . . . I feel as you do about
Balisand,
but I rather think
So Big
is a better novel, though we won't have a quarrel about that. Sincerely, W. A. White.”
Then came a letter to the Pulitzer Trustees Fund from the third judge, Jefferson B. Fletcher, which threatened a stalemate at the most, and a tie for the prize at the least.
April 3, 1925:
“Gentleman: . . . If a positive choice by the Trustees is desired, I should prefer, myself,
Balisand
but my greater preference under the circumstances would be to divide the prize between
Balisand
and
So Big..
. Regretting that I am unable to present a more definitive decision I remain sincerely yours, Jefferson B. Fletcher.”
William Allen White was not a politician for nothing. The outcomeâgranted by defaultâwas that the prize went to
So Big.
White traces for Ferber how this came about in his victory blessing to her.
April 28, 1925:
“Dear Edna: . . . When it came to reading the novels, I wrote to the other three judges saying that I was for
So Big
for my first choice . . . But when it got down to the final three, I was for you, the other two judges were for
Balisand
and
Plumes
had two second choices, mine and Firkins' as I recollect. It was not a unanimous decision, and as I recollect it
So Big
had one first choice, mine, one second choice, Fletcher's, and one third choice, Firkins'. The final rating was to be established on the book that got the lowest number of points. I received a letter from the Chairman of Judges, Mr. Fletcher, indicating that we could not come to a unanimous decision and suggesting that I agree to
Balisand.
I wrote him a letter of agreement and then I appealed from the decision of the judges to the committee which reviews that decision. My appeal won and
So Big
was chosen. . . . Affectionately yours, Will.”
It seemed that even as far back as 1925, there was a good deal of manipulation, hype, and spin. However, White, known as a highly ethical person, most likely got fed up with the shilly-shallying of the other two, but didn't want to openly contradict them. Because he was such a champion of Ferber, and because he so believed that
So Big
was far and away the best novel, he took the matter to a higher level. Due to White, the prestige of the prize made Edna Ferber a national novelist heroine.
Have You Read?
More by Edna Ferber
GIANT
This sweeping tale captures the essence of Texas on a staggering scale as it chronicles the life and times of cattleman Jordan “Bick” Benedict, his naïve young society wife, Leslie, and three generations of land-rich sons. A sensational story of power, love, cattle barons, and oil tycoons,
Giant
was the basis of the classic film starring James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson.
“A powerful story. . . truly as big as its subject.”
â
Los Angeles Times
SARATOGA TRUNK
The basis for the classic film starring Gary Cooper and Ingrid Bergman,
Saratoga Trunk
unfolds the story of Clio Dulaine, an ambitious Creole beauty who more than meets her match in Clint Maroon, a handsome Texan with a head for businessâand an eye for beautiful young women. Together they do battle with Southern gentry and Eastern society, but in their obsession to acquire all they've ever wanted, they fail to realize they already have all they'll ever needâeach other.
“The greatest American woman novelist of her day.”
â
New York Times
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