author
Charles G. (Charles Gilman) Norris
1881–1945
Known for fiction that took on big social questions, this American novelist wrote about marriage, labor, education, and birth control in ways that stirred conversation in the early 20th century. Before his novels found readers, he spent years working as a journalist and magazine editor.
1 Audiobook
Bread
by Charles G. (Charles Gilman) Norris
About the author
Born in Chicago in 1881 and raised largely in San Francisco, Charles Gilman Norris became an American novelist, playwright, and editor. He studied at the University of California, Berkeley, and worked in journalism and magazine publishing before turning to fiction.
His books often tackled controversial or timely subjects rather than staying safely in the background. Novels such as Salt, Brass, Bread, Pig Iron, and Seed explored social issues including marriage, industry, education, and birth control, giving his work a reputation for being thoughtful and engaged with public debate.
Norris was also part of a notably literary family: he was the brother of novelist Frank Norris and the husband of writer Kathleen Norris. He died in 1945 in California, leaving behind a body of work remembered for its serious interest in the pressures and moral questions of modern life.