Nathanael WEST was an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter best known for his works The Day of the Locust and Miss Lonelyhearts. He was born in New York City in 1903 and died in 1940 in a car accident. His given name was Nathan Weinstein, but he changed it to Nathanael WEST when he began writing. He is remembered for his darkly comic works that often featured characters living on the fringes of society. The crossword solution for his job description is 'WEST', which is a fitting tribute to his life and work.