Noel Perrin - Early Years

Early Years

Perrin was born on September 18, 1927 in New York City and grew up in Pelham Manor, New York His parents both worked as advertising copywriters at the J. Walter Thompson Agency. His mother, Blanche Chenery Perrin, was a career writer and the author of several novels. Perrin's mother was his inspiration to become a writer.

Perrin was educated at the Woodberry Forest School in Orange, Virginia, and later at Williams College, where he majored in English Literature and graduating in 1949. He received a master's degree from Duke University in 1950, then served in the United States Army. During the Korean War he served as a forward observer in a field artillery unit and was awarded the Bronze Star.