Eudora Welty: A Biography
by Suzanne Marrs
On This Page
Description
Eudora Welty's works are treasures of American literature. When her first short-story collection was published in 1941, it heralded the arrival of a genuinely original writer who over the decades wrote hugely popular novels, novellas, essays, and a memoir, One Writer's Beginnings, that became a national bestseller. By the end of her life, Welty (who died in 2001) had been given nearly every literary award there was and was all but shrouded in admiration. In this definitive and authoritative show more account, Suzanne Marrs restores Welty's story to human proportions, tracing Welty's life from her roots in Jackson, Mississippi, to her rise to international stature. Making generous use of Welty's correspondence-particularly with contemporaries and admirers, including Katherine Anne Porter, E. M. Forster, and Elizabeth Bowen-Marrs has provided a fitting and fascinating tribute to one of the finest writers of the twentieth century. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
Since the age of fourteen when I picked up a copy of Eudora Welty's A CURTAIN OF GREEN, I've been a huge fan of her writing. Growing up in South Mississippi, I would have had to be oblivious to not know of Eudora Welty (and it didn't hurt being a PBS nerd). Between high school and college, how many times can one student read "A Worn Path"? I'm not sure. I lost count my junior year of college. Phoenix Jackson definitely does rise from the literary ashes every semester or so.
However, I never knew WHO Eudora Welty was beyond her literature. I had an idea of a homebody spinster aunt, but thanks to this gem of a biography, I now know that everything I presumed of Miss Welty was completely wrong.
She travelled extensively on tours throughout show more the United States and Europe. She was mentored by Katherine Ann Porter. She had a romantic relationship with a man for over ten years, and she had a "courtly love" relationship with the Canadian writer, Ross MacDonald, who dedicated one of his books to her.
You find out that Eudora Welty was more than a writer and photographer. She becomes a human being who lived a complete and fulfilling life with or without her mighty pen. She is one of the most intelligent, insightful women I've ever had the pleasure of reading about, and I'm proud to say that she comes from my home state. This is a beautiful and thoughtful biography by a woman that knew Eudora Welty personally. show less
However, I never knew WHO Eudora Welty was beyond her literature. I had an idea of a homebody spinster aunt, but thanks to this gem of a biography, I now know that everything I presumed of Miss Welty was completely wrong.
She travelled extensively on tours throughout show more the United States and Europe. She was mentored by Katherine Ann Porter. She had a romantic relationship with a man for over ten years, and she had a "courtly love" relationship with the Canadian writer, Ross MacDonald, who dedicated one of his books to her.
You find out that Eudora Welty was more than a writer and photographer. She becomes a human being who lived a complete and fulfilling life with or without her mighty pen. She is one of the most intelligent, insightful women I've ever had the pleasure of reading about, and I'm proud to say that she comes from my home state. This is a beautiful and thoughtful biography by a woman that knew Eudora Welty personally. show less
purchased in Bend, Oregon 2005
Ratings
Members
- Recently Added By
Lists
Best Biographies of Notable Women
277 works; 101 members
Author Information
5 Works 416 Members
Suzanne Marrs is professor of English at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi, and has served as Welty Scholar at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.
Awards and Honors
Distinctions
Common Knowledge
- People/Characters
- Eudora Welty
- Important places
- Mississippi, USA; Jackson, Mississippi, USA
- Important events
- Great Depression
Classifications
- Genres
- Biography & Memoir, Literature Studies and Criticism, Fiction and Literature
- DDC/MDS
- 813.52 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 1900-1999 1900-1945
- LCC
- PS3545 .E6 .Z7728 — Language and Literature American literature American literature Individual authors 1900-1960
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 181
- Popularity
- 180,790
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.94)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 6
- ASINs
- 4
