A writer who inspired readers to "get lost" with his characters, Elwyn Brooks White (1899–1985) was born on this day in Mount Vernon, New York.

“Writing is an act of faith. Not a trick of grammar.”

White wrote his classic children's story Charlotte's Web while living on his North Brooklin farm on the coast of Maine. The story goes that one day White felt sorry for a pig he was feeding, carried his portable typewriter to a nearby shed that overlooked the ocean, and wrote.

“Like most pigs, he was doomed to die. This made me sad. So I started thinking of ways to save a pig's life,” he explained. “I had been watching a big, gray spider at work and was impressed by how clever she was at weaving. Gradually I worked the spider into the story... a story of friendship and salvation on a farm.”

The best-selling novel was first published in 1952. White called the illustrations by Garth Williams “beguiling.”

Charlotte’s Web weaved the magical tale of Wilbur the pig and the lessons of love, sacrifice, and protection. “You have been my friend,” Charlotte said. “That in itself is a tremendous thing.”

A miracle for children and adults to read and remember, the book bequeathed the unforgettable lesson that human beings must always be on the lookout for the coming of wonder.

E.B. White's celebration honors his timeless contributions to literature and reinforces the magic of storytelling with integrity and heart. His quote about “getting lost in your subject” fits seamlessly with the spirit of the Writer's Digest Top 100 Writers page — a garden of literary excellence. Please visit and wander awhile...