Willie Morris - by Jack Bales (Paperback)

About the Book

William Weaks Morris was a writer defined in large measure by his southern roots. A seventh generation Mississippian, he grew up in Yazoo City, close enough to his mother's family to be frequently reminded of his heritage. Spending his college years at the University of Texas and Oxford University in England gave Morris a taste of the world and, perhaps, a deeper appreciation for his southern birthright. At the very least, these experiences gave him something to write home about. The product of exhaustive research, this volume is a comprehensive reference to Willie Morris life and works. It also provides an in-depth literary biography based on hundreds of primary sources such as letters, newspaper articles and interviews. The books principal focus, however, is Morris' literary legacy, which includes works such as North Toward Home, New York Days and My Dog Skip. Two annotated bibliographies--one for Morris' own writing and one focusing on secondary sources--comprise over 2100 entries. Each entry contains a concise, informative summary of the cited work. A chronology of Willie Morris' life and career is supplied for easy reference. Exclusive photographs, some provided by the Morris family, and an index are also included.

Book Synopsis

William Weaks Morris was a writer defined in large measure by his Southern roots. A seventh generation Mississippian, he grew up in Yazoo City frequently reminded of his heritage. Spending his college years at the University of Texas and at Oxford University in England gave Morris a taste of the world and, at the very least, something to write home about.

This volume is a comprehensive reference work dealing with Willie Morris' life and works. It is also a literary biography based on hundreds of primary sources such as letters, newspaper articles and interviews. The principal focus is on Morris' literary legacy, which includes works such as North Toward Home, New York Days and My Dog Skip.

Review Quotes

"exhaustive research...comprehensive"-Mississippi Magazine; "valuable"-Fredericksburg.com; "excellent"-Clarion Ledger; "useful and a joy to peruse...a must...fascinating"-Arkansas Review; "exhaustive research...comprehensive"-Delta Magazine; "the product of exhaustive research...comprehensive references"-The Southern Quarterly; "exemplary...a meticulous scholar...scrupulous documentation"-The American Oxonian.

About the Author

Jack Bales is the Reference and Humanities Librarian at the University of Mary Washington Library in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The author of numerous books and articles, he lives in Fredericksburg.