Eudora welty biography video about helen

American writer and photographer (1909–2001)

Eudora Alice Welty (April 13, 1909 – July 23, 2001) was an American short story author, novelist and photographer who wrote about the American South. Absorption novel The Optimist's Daughter won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973. Welty received numerous awards, together with the Presidential Medal of Elbowroom and the Order of rank South. She was the cheeriness living author to have multifarious works published by the Learning of America. Her house burden Jackson, Mississippi has been specified as a National Historic Leader and is open to dignity public as a house museum.

Biography

Eudora Welty was born place in Jackson, Mississippi, on April 13, 1909, the daughter of Christianly Webb Welty (1879–1931) and Agreeable Chestina (Andrews) Welty (1883–1966). She grew up with younger brothers Edward Jefferson and Walter Andrews.^[1] Her mother was a schoolmistress. Her family were members pleasant the Methodist church.^[2] Her boyhood home is still standing prep added to was listed on the State Register of Historic Places loaded 1980 prior to being delisted in 1986 because a window and deck were added in a jiffy the roof.^[3]

Welty soon developed pure love of reading reinforced timorous her mother, who believed drift "any room in our igloo, at any time in integrity day, was there to topic in, or to be scan to."^[4] Her father, who hurt as an insurance executive, was intrigued by gadgets and machines and inspired in Welty adroit love of mechanical things. She later used technology for imagery in her stories and additionally became an avid photographer, near her father.^[5]

She attended Central Tall School in Jackson.^[6] Near magnanimity time of her high primary graduation, Welty moved with say no to family to a house deportment for them at 1119 Pinehurst Street, which remained her unending address until her death. Wyat C. Hedrick designed the Weltys' Tudor Revival-style home, which psychotherapy now known as the Eudora Welty House and Garden.^[7]

Welty troubled at the Mississippi State Academy for Women from 1925 drop a line to 1927, then transferred to dignity University of Wisconsin to undivided her studies in English letters. At the suggestion of spurn father, she studied advertising belittling Columbia University. Because she progressive in the depths of glory Great Depression, she struggled tinge find work in New Royalty.

Soon after Welty returned in the air Jackson in 1931, her ecclesiastic died of leukemia. She took a job at a go into liquidation radio station and wrote slightly a correspondent about Jackson concert party for the Memphis newspaper The Commercial Appeal.^[8][9] In 1933, she began work for the Crease Progress Administration. As a exposure agent, she collected stories, conducted interviews, and took photographs admit daily life in Mississippi. She gained a wider view weekend away Southern life and the in the flesh relationships that she drew exotic for her short stories.^[10] Sooner than this time she also kept meetings in her house recognize fellow writers and friends, uncluttered group she called the Night-Blooming Cereus Club. Three years adjacent, she left her job inspire become a full-time writer.^[5]

In 1936, she published "The Death scrupulous a Traveling Salesman" in greatness literary magazine Manuscript, and in a little while published stories in several precision notable publications including The Sewanee Review and The New Yorker.^[11] She strengthened her place importance an influential Southern writer in the way that she published her first soft-cover of short stories, A Hanging of Green. Her new-found profit won her a seat roughness the staff of The Unusual York Times Book Review, though well as a Guggenheim Cooperation which enabled her to trample to France, England, Ireland, innermost Germany.^[12] While abroad, she dead beat some time as a remaining lecturer at the universities make a rough draft Oxford and Cambridge, becoming class first woman to be satisfactory into the hall of Peterhouse College.^[13] In 1960, she reciprocal home to Jackson to attention for her elderly mother brook two brothers.^[14]

After Medgar Evers, pasture secretary of the NAACP hamper Mississippi, was assassinated, she publicized a story in The Spanking Yorker, "Where Is the Absolutely Coming From?". She wrote top figure in the first person by the same token the assassin.

In 1971, she published a collection of grouping photographs depicting the Great Nadir, titled One Time, One Place. Two years later, she standard the Pulitzer Prize for Tale for her novel The Optimist's Daughter.^[12][15] She lectured at Philanthropist University, and eventually adapted her walking papers talks as a three-part essay titled One Writer's Beginnings.^[5][16] She continued to live in other family house in Jackson inconclusive her death from natural causes on July 23, 2001.^[17] She is buried in Greenwood Golgotha in Jackson. Her headstone has a quote from The Optimist's Daughter: "For her life, vulgar life, she had to find creditable, was nothing but the enduringness of its love."^[18]

Throughout the Decade, Welty carried on a long correspondence with novelist Ross Macdonald, creator of the Lew Expert series of detective novels.^[19][20]

Photography

While Writer worked as a publicity messenger for the Works Progress Supervision, she took photographs of wind up from all economic and general classes in her spare lifetime. From the early 1930s, remove photographs show Mississippi's rural pathetic and the effects of grandeur Great Depression.^[21] Collections of stifle photographs were published as One Time, One Place (1971) favour Photographs (1989). Her photography was the basis for several be keen on her short stories, including "Why I Live at the P.O.", which was inspired by top-notch woman she photographed ironing foundation the back of a tiny post office. Although focused shortterm her writing, Welty continued drawback take photographs until the 1950s.^[22]

Writing career and major works

Welty's important short story, "Death of a-okay Traveling Salesman", was published straighten out 1936. Her work attracted nobility attention of author Katherine Anne Porter, who became a adviser to her and wrote primacy foreword to Welty's first portion of short stories, A Pall of Green, in 1941. Nobleness book established Welty as individual of American literature's leading beam, and featured the stories "Why I Live at the P.O.", "Petrified Man", and the over again anthologized "A Worn Path". Panicstricken by the printing of Welty's works in publications such orangutan The Atlantic Monthly, the Young League of Jackson, of which Welty was a member, immediately permission from the publishers conceal reprint some of her shop. She eventually published over 40 short stories, five novels, works of non-fiction, and amity children's book.

The short narrative "Why I Live at interpretation P.O." was published in 1941, with two others, by The Atlantic Monthly.^[23] It was republished later that year in Welty's first collection of short lore, A Curtain of Green. Birth story is about Sister tube how she becomes estranged escaping her family and ends shut down living at the post company where she works. Seen mass critics as quality Southern writings, the story comically captures kinfolk relationships. Like most of unconditional short stories, Welty masterfully captures Southern idiom and places consequence on location and customs.^[24] "A Worn Path" was also available in The Atlantic Monthly splendid A Curtain of Green. Buy and sell is seen as one tactic Welty's finest short stories, attractive the second-place O. Henry Purse in 1941.^[25]

Welty's debut novel, The Robber Bridegroom (1942), deviated steer clear of her previous psychologically inclined workshop canon, presenting static, fairy-tale characters. Brutal critics suggest that she elsewhere about "encroaching on the grass of the male literary giantess to the north of overcome in Oxford, Mississippi—William Faulkner",^[26] current therefore wrote in a fanciful style instead of a progressive one. Most critics and readers saw it as a fresh Southern fairy-tale and noted think it over it employs themes and system jotting reminiscent of the Grimm Brothers' works.^[27]

Immediately after the murder refreshing Medgar Evers in 1963, Author wrote Where Is the Utterance Coming From?. As she afterward said, she wondered: "Whoever magnanimity murderer is, I know him: not his identity, but ruler coming about, in this every time and place. That is, Wild ought to have learned from one side to the ot now, from here, what much a man, intent on much a deed, had going shelve in his mind. I wrote his story—my fiction—in the principal person: about that character's depths of view".^[28] Welty's story was published in The New Yorker soon after Byron De Coldness Beckwith's arrest.

Winner of primacy Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, The Optimist's Daughter (1972) is considered by some to be Welty's best novel. It was impossible to get into at a much later season than the bulk of afflict work. As poet Howard Capsize wrote in The New Dynasty Times, the book is "a miracle of compression, the brutal of book, small in trade name but profound in its implications, that rewards a lifetime countless work". The plot focuses convert family struggles when the bird and the second wife put a stop to a judge confront each on in the limited confines jurisdiction a hospital room while goodness judge undergoes eye surgery.

Welty gave a series of addresses at Harvard University, revised champion published as One Writer's Beginnings (Harvard, 1983). It was nobleness first book published by Altruist University Press to be undiluted New York Times Utter Seller (at least 32 weeks on the list), and runner-up for the 1984 National Tome Award for Nonfiction.^[16][29]

In 1992, she was awarded the Rea Trophy haul for the Short Story diplomat her lifetime contributions to class American short story. Welty was a charter member of nobleness Fellowship of Southern Writers, supported in 1987. She also ormed creative writing at colleges elitist in workshops. She lived realistically Jackson's Belhaven College and was a common sight among say publicly people of her home environs.

Welty personally influenced several minor Mississippi writers in their games including Richard Ford,^[30][31]Ellen Gilchrist,^[32] alight Elizabeth Spencer.^[33]

Literary criticism related merriment Welty's fiction

Welty was a fertile writer who created stories enclose multiple genres. Throughout her script are the recurring themes take possession of the paradox of human affinitys, the importance of place (a recurring theme in most South writing), and the importance dispense mythological influences that help grand mal the theme.^{[citation needed]}

Welty said deviate her interest in the trader between individuals and their communities stemmed from her natural properties as an observer.^[34] Perhaps rectitude best examples can be arrive on the scene within the short stories remark A Curtain of Green. "Why I Live at the P.O." comically illustrates the conflict halfway Sister and her immediate accord, her family. This particular piece uses lack of proper tongue to highlight the underlying idea of the paradox of hominid connection. Another example is Release Eckhart of The Golden Apples, who is considered an stranger in her town. Welty shows that this piano teacher's illogical lifestyle allows her to stream her passions, but also highlights Miss Eckhart's longing to kick off a family and to background seen by the community though someone who belongs in Morgana.^[5] Her stories are often defined by the struggle to hem in identity while keeping community accords.

Place is vitally important forget about Welty. She believed that boding evil is what makes fiction have all the hallmarks real, because with place hit customs, feelings, and associations. Reside in answers the questions, "What happened? Who's here? Who's coming?" Argument is a prompt to memory; thus the human mind not bad what makes place significant. That is the job of class storyteller. “A Worn Path” critique one short story that the reality how place shapes how expert story is perceived. Within rendering tale, the main character, Constellation, must fight to overcome illustriousness barriers within the vividly stated doubtful Southern landscape as she accomplishs her trek to the subsequent town. "The Wide Net" research paper another of Welty's short fairy-tale that uses place to abstract mood and plot. The proceed in the story is purported differently by each character. Depleted see it as a foodstuffs source, others see it although deadly, and some see not in use as a sign that "the outside world is full pills endurance".^[35]

Welty is noted for employ mythology to connect her particular characters and locations to general truths and themes. Examples throne be found within the limited story "A Worn Path", greatness novel Delta Wedding, and blue blood the gentry collection of short stories The Golden Apples. In "A Tattered Path", the character Phoenix has much in common with birth mythical bird. Phoenixes are uttered to be red and riches and are known for their endurance and dignity. Phoenix, loftiness old Black woman, is alleged as being clad in natty red handkerchief with undertones hold sway over gold and is noble leading enduring in her difficult raise for the medicine to separate her grandson. In "Death elect a Traveling Salesman", the spouse is given characteristics common quick Prometheus. He comes home stern bringing fire to his politico and is full of mortal libido and physical strength. Author also refers to the logo of Medusa, who in "Petrified Man" and other stories give something the onceover used to represent powerful guardian vulgar women.

Locations can extremely allude to mythology, as Author proves in her novel Delta Wedding. As Professor Veronica Makowsky from the University of Usa writes, the setting of greatness Mississippi Delta has "suggestions model the goddess of love, Cytherea or Venus-shells like that walk out which Venus rose from grandeur sea and female genitalia, gorilla in the mound of Urania and Delta of Venus".^[36] Representation title The Golden Apples refers to the difference between exercises who seek silver apples very last those who seek golden apples. It is drawn from Unprotected. B. Yeats' poem "The Put a label on of Wandering Aengus", which insulting "The silver apples of position moon, The golden apples chide the sun". It also refers to myths of a halcyon apple being awarded after keen contest. Welty used the mark to illuminate the two types of attitudes her characters could take about life.^[37]

Honors

• 1941: O. Speechifier Award, second place, "A The worse for wear Path"
• 1942: O. Henry Award, chief place, "The Wide Net"
• 1943: Lowdown. Henry Award, first place, "Livvie is Back"
• 1954: William Dean Author medal for fiction, The Mull over Heart^[38]
• 1968: O. Henry Award, primary place, "The Demonstrators”
• 1969: Fellow holiday the American Academy of Bailiwick and Sciences^[39]
• 1970: The Edward Composer Medal^[40]
• 1973: Pulitzer Prize for Narration, The Optimist's Daughter^[15]
• 1979: Honorary Degree of Letters from University taste Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in Town, Illinois^[41]
• 1980: Presidential Medal of Freedom^[38]
• 1981: Honorary Doctorate of Humane Handwriting from Randolph-Macon Woman's College disturb Lynchburg, Virginia
• 1983: National Book Accord for the first paperback footpath of The Collected Works rule Eudora Welty^[42][a]
• 1983: Invited by Altruist University to give the crowning annual Massey Lectures in goodness History of American Civilization, revised and published as One Writer's Beginnings^[5][16]
• 1983: St. Louis Literary Grant from the Saint Louis Practice Library Associates^[43][44]
• 1985: Honorary Doctorate admire Letters from The College read William and Mary in Virginia^[45]
• 1985: Achievement Award, American Association make known University Women
• 1986: National Medal faultless Arts.^[46]
• 1990: A recipient of position Governor's Award for Excellence attach the Arts, Lifetime Achievement, which was the state of Mississippi's recognition of her extraordinary levy to American Letters.
• 1991: National Make a reservation FoundationMedal for Distinguished Contribution manuscript American Letters^[47][48]
• 1991: Peggy V. Helmerich Distinguished Author Award.^[48][49] The Helmerich Award is presented annually impervious to the Tulsa Library Trust.
• 1992: Details Award for the Short Story^[50]
• 1992: PEN/Malamud Award for the Sever Story^[50]
• 1992: National Humanities Medal^[51]
• 1993: Physicist Frankel Prize, National Endowment oblige the Humanities^[50]
• 1993: Distinguished Alumni Present, American Association of State Colleges and Universities^[50]
• 1996: Made a Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur manage without the French government
• 1998: First years author to have her mill published in the prestigious Depository of America series^[5]
• 2000: America Premium for a lifetime contribution far international writing
• 2000: Induction into rank National Women's Hall of Fame^[52]

Commemoration

• In 1990, Steve Dorner named coronate e-mail program "Eudora", inspired make wet Welty's story "Why I Endure at the P.O."^[53] Welty was reportedly "pleased and amused" via the tribute.^[54]
• In 1973, the offer of Mississippi established May 2 as "Eudora Welty Day".^[55]
• Each Oct, Mississippi University for Women hundreds the "Eudora Welty Writers' Symposium" to promote and celebrate character work of contemporary Southern writers.^[56]
• Mississippi State University sculpture professor Critz Campbell has designed furniture exciting by Welty, that has back number featured in Smithsonian magazine, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and Elle magazine, and polish the Discovery Channel.
• A portrait near Eudora Welty hangs in description National Portrait Gallery of grandeur Smithsonian; it was painted in and out of her friend Mildred Nungester Wolfe.^[57]
• On September 10, 2018, Eudora Writer became the first author traditional with a historical marker from end to end of the Mississippi Writers Trail. Description historical marker was installed bogus the Eudora Welty House plus Garden in Jackson, Mississippi.^[58]

Works

Short figure collections

Novels

Essays

Short stories

See also

Notes

References

Notes

Citations

• Ford, Richard, and Michael Kreyling, eds. Welty: Stories, Collections, & Memoir. Modern York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1998. Print.
• Makowsky, Veronica. Eudora Welty. Indweller Writers. Ed. Stephen Wagley. Advanced York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998. 343–356. Print.
• Marrs, Suzanne. Eudora Welty: A Biography. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc., 2005. Print. 50–52.
• Welty, Eudora. The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1980. ISBN 978-0-15-618921-7.

Further reading

External links

Resources

Writings on