7 August

Born in 1911 – Nicholas Ray, American director and screenwriter.

Above: Gloria Grahame and Humphrey Bogart in a still from Ray’s 1950 film, In a Lonely Place

Also, born in 1955, Russian writer Vladimir Sorokin.

I'm not a prophet or a teacher, I just ask questions. I don't think a writer should be a teacher, but should know how to pose the questions and explain the problems.

Previously on August 7, Henri Le Sidaner and Garrison Keillor.