Home / Authors / Malcolm Cowley

Malcolm Cowley

Malcolm Cowley Quotes

Novelist

American novelist born on August 24, 1898, and died on March 27, 1989. Malcolm Cowley is known for his profound insights into American literature and society, with his works often set against historical backdrops, depicting the lives and emotions of characters.

Filter quotes by topic

All Writing Age 1920s Different Dozen Elements Ifs Kind Lost Generation Matter Men Situation Stories Want World 60th Birthday Acquire Alive Amazed Americans

Famous Malcolm Cowley Quotes

“Any fiction should be a story. In any story there are three elements: persons, a situation, and the fact that in the end something has changed. If nothing has changed, it isn't a story.”

Ifs Should Persons Ends Facts Stories Three Fiction Situation Changed Elements Things Have Changed

Book:Conversations with Malcolm Cowley

Source: Conversations with Malcolm Cowley

“The germ of a story is a new and simple element introduced into an existing situation or mood.”

Writing Stories Simple Situation Elements Mood Germs

Book:And I worked at the writer's trade: chapters of literary history, 1918-1978

Source: And I worked at the writer's trade: chapters of literary history, 1918-1978

About the Author

Born: August 24, 1898
Died: March 27, 1989
Known for: Novelist
Quotes: 18

Related Topics

Writing Age 1920s Different Dozen Elements Ifs Kind Lost Generation Matter Men Situation Stories Want World 60th Birthday Acquire Alive Amazed Americans

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Exile's Return: A Literary Odyssey of the 1920sRelated source material

The view from 80Related source material

Think Back on UsRelated source material

And I worked at the writer's trade: chapters of literary history, 1918-1978Related source material

Conversations with Malcolm CowleyRelated source material

Similar Authors

Maurice ChevalierBrowse related quotes
Jim EasonBrowse related quotes
Anna MagnaniBrowse related quotes
Dana Rosemary ScallonBrowse related quotes
Dan ChaonBrowse related quotes
Natalie GoldbergBrowse related quotes
Norman WisdomBrowse related quotes
Elmore LeonardBrowse related quotes
William ZinsserBrowse related quotes
Etgar KeretBrowse related quotes