Bernard Augustine DeVoto's paternal lineage boasted a rich heritage, his father being one of the original Mormon pioneers who ventured into the uncharted territory of Utah. As a young scholar, DeVoto embarked on his educational journey at the University of Utah, only to later transfer to the esteemed Harvard University in Massachusetts. The outbreak of World War I served as a catalyst for DeVoto to enlist in the army, where he was commissioned as an infantry lieutenant, although he did not see combat overseas. Following his military service, DeVoto returned to Harvard, where he eventually graduated in 1920.
DeVoto's academic pursuits continued to flourish as he served as an instructor and assistant professor of English at Northwestern University from 1922 to 1927. He then made the transition to Harvard, where he further honed his teaching skills. In 1936, DeVoto accepted the esteemed position of editor for "The Saturday Review of Literature", only to leave the role two years later and return to Harvard. DeVoto's profound fascination with American history, particularly the American West, inspired him to pen numerous novels on the subject, with "Across the Wide Missouri" standing out as a notable example. This literary masterpiece was later adapted into a film, "Across the Wide Missouri" (1951),starring the iconic Clark Gable.
