A man who is a great writer may be known by some people only as a man who has a creative mind and a skillful hand. People rarely see the real life of their favorite author. Immersing yourself in other people's lives can open up a new perspective for an aspiring young writer. Tennessee William's writing and lifestyle influenced a new era in American literature. Thomas Lanier Williams was born February 23, 1911 in Columbus, Mississippi, to Cornelius and Edwina Williams. Thomas was given the nickname Tennessee later in his life. Tennessee had a brother, Dakin, and a sister named Rose. Edwina and Rose both had forms of poor mental health. Rose was a schizophrenic who often had breakdowns. The Williams family was very wealthy and the money came from Edwina's branch of the family. They moved to St. Louis when Tennessee was seven so that Cornelius could become a shoe company executive. Although Tennessee remained in St. Louis for several more years, he lived in sixteen different homes before he turned fifteen. This made Williams a compulsive traveler in his later years. Tennessee and his father never had a close bond. Cornelius always wanted Tennessee to be involved in sports, but Tennessee just wanted to write. His father resented the fact that Tennessee was not like his brother Dakin. It was very obvious to others that Cornelius' favorite child was his own daughter, Rose. He knew that Rose had an unstable mind, but he had never wanted to admit it to himself. Unfortunately, one night Cornelius and Edwina argued, which scared Rose. Cornelius went to Rose to try to calm her down, but she interpreted his actions as sexual advances towards her. Because of this, Rose had a severe nervous breakdown. His mother made the decision... mid-paper... American literature. Tennessee Williams' talent and his story will never be forgotten. He has opened a new path for those who may be facing the same difficulties as him. The greatness of Tennessee Williams will live on to inspire others over time. Works Cited About Tennessee Willianms. PBS. Network. 8 April 2014. americanmasters/episodes/tennessee-williams/about-tennessee-williams/737/>. "Tennessee Williams Biography." GradeSaver. Np, nd Web. March 14, 2014. Paglia, Camille. "Tennessee Williams." Tennessee Williams: n. page A new history of America's literacy. Network. April 27, 2014..Lovelady, Cambria. "Tennessee Williams." Tennessee Williams (2005): 1. MAS Ultra-School Edition. Network. January 24. 2014.