author
Murray Sheehan
1887–1963
A journalist, teacher, and novelist, this early 20th-century writer moved easily between practical writing guides and imaginative fiction. He is best remembered for the novels Half-Gods and Eden, along with his work in journalism education at the University of Arkansas.
1 Audiobook
Hints on news reporting
by Murray Sheehan
About the author
Born in Hamilton, Ohio, in 1887, Murray Sheehan built a varied literary life that blended reporting, teaching, and fiction. Reliable reference sources identify him as James Murray Sheehan and note that he studied at the Sorbonne in Paris before going on to a career in journalism and writing.
At the University of Arkansas, he served as the first journalism instructor and the university's first publicity director, and he also edited the Arkansas Traveler. Alongside that academic and editorial work, he published practical books on writing and reporting, showing the same clear-minded interest in craft that shaped his fiction.
Sheehan is especially associated with the novels Half-Gods and Eden, both remembered for their originality and strong sense of style. He died in 1963 and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, leaving behind a body of work that connects campus journalism, popular instruction, and ambitious literary storytelling.