Flannery
Mar 11, 2009
Flannery
A Life of Flannery O'Connor
Author: Brad Gooch
Publisher: Hatchette Book Group
Publication Date: February, 2009
ISBN: 978031600666
Born in Savannah, Georgia in 1925, Flannery wrote little before she succumbed to Lupus at the age of 39. But she managed, in that small body of work, to make a great impression on the literary world.
She is consistently labeled one of the greatest American writers in Southern Gothic literature. She published a small amount - 2 novels, a variety of short stories, and a book after her death of lovely, long letters she wrote to friends.
This is the story of her short, but meaningful life. She was great friends with many literary people - though not a party animal in any way - before sadly becoming reclusive in her last years as the disease took it's toll on her body.
She was an interesting writer, sarcastic, witty, cynical with her characters always of the interesting/oddball Southern type. Religion was very much in the subject of her stories.
This is a very thorough investigation of her life, bringing much insight in what may have driven her to write about the subjects she did and describing how she affected writing styles of others.
She once said about herself, "There won't be any biographies of me because, for only one reason, lives spent between the house and the chicken yard do not make exciting copy."
Apparently, she was wrong.
If you have interest in Flannery O' Connor, this book contains a wealth of information for you.
