Edna Ferber was an American novelist, short story writer, and playwright. She wrote many popular novels, including Show Boat, Cimarron, and Giant. She also wrote several plays, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Stage Door. Along with her writing, she was a member of the Algonquin Round Table, a group of New York City writers, actors, and critics who met regularly for lunch at the Algonquin Hotel. Ferber was also a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.