Can you figure out who our rhyming riddle refers to?

He was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1897 and his works have likely been before your eyes,

In 1928, his novel “The Bridge of San Luis Rey” brought him the Pulitzer Prize,

He also wrote a play that opened on February 4th, 1938 that begins with the friendship of a couple of kids,

You may recall their names as Emily Webb and George Gibbs.