During the lifetime of humorist George Fitch, some critics thought that he might take the place of Mark Twain in the hearts and libraries of American readers. Sadly, Fitch's promise was cut short when he died aged 38 from a ruptured appendix.
Fitch, a native of Galva, Illinois, began his career as a humorist in such newspapers as the Council Bluffs (Iowa) Daily Nonpareil and the Peoria (Illinois) Herald-Transcript. He broke into national magazines in 1907 when his “Megaphone” series, which satirised various American cities, began appearing in the Ladies' Home Journal. In 1908, his most popular stories, which were set at the fictitious Old Siwash College, began appearing in the Saturday Evening …
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Citation: Rachels, David. "George Fitch". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 July 2001 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=1543, accessed 26 November 2024.]