Don Marquis

Born in Walnut, Illinois, in 1878, Don Marquis became a journalist before making his name as a humorist, poet, playwright, and novelist. He worked for newspapers in Atlanta and later in New York, where his columns brought him a wide readership.

He is most closely associated with archy and mehitabel, the beloved characters he introduced in newspaper pieces: Archy, a cockroach who types poems by jumping on a typewriter's keys, and Mehitabel, a free-spirited alley cat. Through them, Marquis wrote comic pieces that were playful on the surface but often thoughtful about human nature, city life, and survival.

During his lifetime, he was also known for other recurring characters and for his broad career in American journalism and light verse. He died in 1937, but his best work still feels lively and fresh, especially for readers who enjoy humor with a little melancholy underneath.