Bernard Augustine DeVoto's paternal lineage is deeply rooted in a storied and illustrious past, his father being a true pioneer who embarked on a bold and daring journey to settle the vast and unexplored territory of Utah, a courageous endeavor that would ultimately lay the groundwork for future generations to not only survive but also thrive and flourish in this unforgiving yet breathtakingly majestic landscape.
The illustrious DeVoto embarked on a distinguished academic odyssey, commencing his intellectual sojourn at the esteemed University of Utah, a paragon of higher learning, where he devoted himself to cultivating his cognitive faculties and laying the foundation for a future replete with academic brilliance.
As the tumultuous and far-reaching repercussions of the Great War unfolded, casting a dark and foreboding shadow across the world, a profound sense of duty and obligation began to take hold within the psyche of Joseph Wood Krutch DeVoto, compelling him to take decisive action and respond to the call to arms, ultimately resulting in his receipt of a commission as an infantry lieutenant in the year 1918.
As the sounds of conflict gradually faded into the distance, Bernard DeVoto embarked on a journey back to the hallowed halls of Harvard University, a revered institution of higher learning where he had previously interrupted his academic pursuits due to the demands of war.
Over the course of several years, the trajectory of DeVoto's career underwent a significant transformation, as he gradually shifted his focus from one academic role to another.
Initially, he took on the role of an instructor and assistant professor of English at Northwestern University, a position he held from 1922 to 1927. This early period of academic pursuit laid the groundwork for his future endeavors.
Following his tenure at Northwestern, DeVoto proceeded to Harvard University, where he would subsequently remain for an extended duration. Immerse in the world of academia, he continued to hone his skills and expand his knowledge in the field of English studies.
Bernard DeVoto's professional trajectory underwent a significant transformation in the year 1936, as he seized the opportunity to assume the esteemed editorship of the prestigious "The Saturday Review of Literature", a publication renowned for its literary excellence. During his tenure, which although brief, spanning a mere two years, DeVoto's editorial acumen and literary insight had a profound impact on the publication, leaving an indelible mark on its readers and the literary world at large.
DeVoto's fascination with the intricate and complex fabric of American history, with a particular emphasis on the storied and often romanticized American West, ultimately led him to create a series of novels that meticulously explored this captivating subject matter. His magnum opus, the celebrated "Across the Wide Missouri", would go on to surpass the boundaries of the written word, as it was masterfully adapted into a cinematic masterpiece, featuring the incomparable Clark Gable in the 1951 film "Across the Wide Missouri", a production that not only brought DeVoto's work to life but also cemented its place in the annals of American cinematic history.
