John William Cheever was an American short story writer and novelist. He is now recognized as one of the most important short fiction writers of the 20th century. In the late 1970s, Cheever enjoyed a revival when his collected stories won several awards, including the Pulitzer Prize. Cheever's writing explored both the light and dark aspects of suburban life in New York, though some critics did not understand his themes during his lifetime. The contrast between light and dark is important to understanding all sides of human experience.

1. John William Cheever

2.  born May 27, 1912
 died June 18, 1982
 now recognized as one of the most important
short fiction writers of the 20th century
 John Cheever enjoyed a revival in the late
1970s, when his collected stories, including
"The Death of Justina," won the Pulitzer
Prize, the National Book Critics' Circle Award
and the American Book Award.
Biography

3.  “ I think his themes were that intense
combination of darkness and light that
characterizes all of our lives if we will see it.”
Ms Cheever (Revisiting John Cheever’s
Suburban Unrest)
 John Cheever used both aspects of the lives
in Manhattan to get his story across.
 It was that aspect of Cheever's writing that
caused his reputation to fade in the 1960s,
when the nation's social issues seemed more
pertinent than the suffering in the suburbs.
Light and dark contrast…

4.  Although some critics did not understand
where John Cheever’s was coming from,
without the contrast how we would see
both sides??
Light and dark contrast…

5. ◦ "Revisiting John Cheever's Suburban Unrest."
All Things Considered 24 Mar. 2009. Literature
Resource Center. Web. 23 June 2012.
Works cited