Ralph Ellison’s Life Ralph Ellison, with only one book published in 1952, made himself among the top American novelists of his time. Is an individual a great writer if only one great novel is written? This is a question asked by many people concerning Ellison. Although this is a very controversial topic, history has shown that no matter what some people think about that, he is one of the twentieth century’s great American writers. Reviewing Ellison’s childhood, early life, and legacy, this paper will show the lifestyle and struggle that Ellison had to endure to become known as a great novelist. Ralph Waldo Ellison was born on March 1, 1914, in Oklahoma City, O