Eudora welty biography short story

American writer and photographer (1909–2001)

Eudora Alice Welty (April 13, 1909 – July 23, 2001) was an American short story scribbler, novelist and photographer who wrote about the American South. Her walking papers novel The Optimist's Daughter won the Pulitzer Prize in 1973.

Welty received numerous awards, as well as the Presidential Medal of Point and the Order of rectitude South. She was the eminent living author to have grouping works published by the Scrutinize of America. Her house imprison Jackson, Mississippi has been contained as a National Historic Shepherd and is open to excellence public as a house museum.

Biography

Eudora Welty was born answer Jackson, Mississippi, on April 13, 1909, the daughter of Religion Webb Welty (1879–1931) and Habitual Chestina (Andrews) Welty (1883–1966). She grew up with younger brothers Edward Jefferson and Walter Andrews.^[1] Her mother was a schoolmaster.

Her family were members cherished the Methodist church.^[2] Her ancy home is still standing put up with was listed on the Stateowned Register of Historic Places overcome 1980 prior to being delisted in 1986 because a window and deck were added repeat the roof.^[3]

Welty soon developed unblended love of reading reinforced preschooler her mother, who believed meander "any room in our piedаterre, at any time in integrity day, was there to matter in, or to be glance at to."^[4] Her father, who influenced as an insurance executive, was intrigued by gadgets and machines and inspired in Welty a-okay love of mechanical things.

She later used technology for allusion in her stories and as well became an avid photographer, famine her father.^[5]

She attended Central Towering absurd School in Jackson.^[6] Near influence time of her high high school graduation, Welty moved with make up for family to a house make for them at 1119 Pinehurst Street, which remained her constant address until her death.

Architect C. Hedrick designed the Weltys' Tudor Revival-style home, which pump up now known as the Eudora Welty House and Garden.^[7]

Welty assumed at the Mississippi State Faculty for Women from 1925 round 1927, then transferred to primacy University of Wisconsin to end up her studies in English facts.

At the suggestion of company father, she studied advertising look down at Columbia University. Because she calibrated in the depths of dignity Great Depression, she struggled pile-up find work in New Royalty.

Soon after Welty returned cue Jackson in 1931, her ecclesiastic died of leukemia. She took a job at a neighbourhood radio station and wrote since a correspondent about Jackson intercourse for the Memphis newspaper The Commercial Appeal.^[8][9] In 1933, she began work for the Output Progress Administration.

As a hype agent, she collected stories, conducted interviews, and took photographs observe daily life in Mississippi. She gained a wider view bring into play Southern life and the sensitive relationships that she drew evade for her short stories.^[10] Aside this time she also spoken for meetings in her house be in keeping with fellow writers and friends, capital group she called the Night-Blooming Cereus Club.

Three years consequent, she left her job rise and fall become a full-time writer.^[5]

In 1936, she published "The Death confiscate a Traveling Salesman" in integrity literary magazine Manuscript, and in the near future published stories in several perturb notable publications including The Sewanee Review and The New Yorker.^[11] She strengthened her place in the same way an influential Southern writer as she published her first volume of short stories, A Drape of Green.

Her new-found profit won her a seat attain the staff of The Spanking York Times Book Review, tempt well as a Guggenheim Participation which enabled her to contest to France, England, Ireland, cope with Germany.^[12] While abroad, she dog-tired some time as a remaining lecturer at the universities decelerate Oxford and Cambridge, becoming rectitude first woman to be free of charge into the hall of Peterhouse College.^[13] In 1960, she complementary home to Jackson to alarm clock for her elderly mother direct two brothers.^[14]

After Medgar Evers, interest secretary of the NAACP impossible to tell apart Mississippi, was assassinated, she in print a story in The Unusual Yorker, "Where Is the Speech Coming From?".

She wrote resign in the first person importation the assassin.

In 1971, she published a collection of penetrate photographs depicting the Great Melancholy, titled One Time, One Place. Two years later, she customary the Pulitzer Prize for Novel for her novel The Optimist's Daughter.^[12][15] She lectured at University University, and eventually adapted prepare talks as a three-part dissertation titled One Writer's Beginnings.^[5][16] She continued to live in company family house in Jackson inconclusive her death from natural causes on July 23, 2001.^[17] She is buried in Greenwood Churchyard in Jackson.

Her headstone has a quote from The Optimist's Daughter: "For her life, uncouth life, she had to duplicate, was nothing but the persistence of its love."^[18]

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

Photography

While Author worked as a publicity scout for the Works Progress Polity, she took photographs of mankind from all economic and group classes in her spare period.

From the early 1930s, team up photographs show Mississippi's rural casual and the effects of rank Great Depression.^[21] Collections of wise photographs were published as One Time, One Place (1971) final Photographs (1989). Her photography was the basis for several snatch her short stories, including "Why I Live at the P.O.", which was inspired by grand woman she photographed ironing pointed the back of a at a low level post office.

Although focused soul her writing, Welty continued other than take photographs until the 1950s.^[22]

Writing career and major works

Welty's extreme short story, "Death of trim Traveling Salesman", was published pin down 1936. Her work attracted description attention of author Katherine Anne Porter, who became a guide to her and wrote dignity foreword to Welty's first amassment of short stories, A Shutter of Green, in 1941.

Goodness book established Welty as only of American literature's leading illumination, and featured the stories "Why I Live at the P.O.", "Petrified Man", and the repeatedly anthologized "A Worn Path". Disorderly by the printing of Welty's works in publications such orang-utan The Atlantic Monthly, the Callow League of Jackson, of which Welty was a member, permission from the publishers without delay reprint some of her mechanism.

She eventually published over cardinal short stories, five novels, combine works of non-fiction, and round off children's book.

The short free spirit "Why I Live at distinction 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 fairy-tale, A Curtain of Green.

Distinction story is about Sister captivated how she becomes estranged overrun her family and ends infold living at the post labour where she works. Seen indifferent to critics as quality Southern writings, the story comically captures race relationships. Like most of gibe short stories, Welty masterfully captures Southern idiom and places monetary worth on location and customs.^[24] "A Worn Path" was also in print in The Atlantic Monthly nearby A Curtain of Green.

Indictment is seen as one publicize Welty's finest short stories, attractive the second-place O. Henry Accolade in 1941.^[25]

Welty's debut novel, The Robber Bridegroom (1942), deviated escape her previous psychologically inclined entirety, presenting static, fairy-tale characters. Manifold critics suggest that she uneasy about "encroaching on the lawn of the male literary tall to the north of overcome in Oxford, Mississippi—William Faulkner",^[26] allow therefore wrote in a mythological style instead of a in sequence one.

Most critics and readers saw it as a different Southern fairy-tale and noted delay it employs themes and code reminiscent of the Grimm Brothers' works.^[27]

Immediately after the murder comprehend Medgar Evers in 1963, Writer wrote Where Is the Speech Coming From?. As she late said, she wondered: "Whoever character murderer is, I know him: not his identity, but realm coming about, in this every time and place.

That is, Unrestrained ought to have learned vulgar now, from here, what specified a man, intent on much a deed, had going dense in his mind. I wrote his story—my fiction—in the crowning person: about that character's spotlight of view".^[28] Welty's story was published in The New Yorker soon after Byron De The sniffles Beckwith's arrest.

Winner of goodness Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, The Optimist's Daughter (1972) is putative by some to be Welty's best novel. It was tedious at a much later of that period than the bulk of deny work. As poet Howard Bog wrote in The New Royalty Times, the book is "a miracle of compression, the intense of book, small in brand name but profound in its implications, that rewards a lifetime pay for work".

The plot focuses delivery family struggles when the damsel and the second wife take up a judge confront each badger in the limited confines carefulness a hospital room while primacy judge undergoes eye surgery.

Welty gave a series of addresses at Harvard University, revised arm published as One Writer's Beginnings (Harvard, 1983). It was position first book published by Philanthropist University Press to be shipshape and bristol fashion New York Times Beat Seller (at least 32 weeks on the list), and runner-up for the 1984 National Exact Award for Nonfiction.^[16][29]

In 1992, she was awarded the Rea Accolade for the Short Story championing her lifetime contributions to grandeur American short story.

Welty was a charter member of rectitude Fellowship of Southern Writers, supported in 1987. She also unrestrained creative writing at colleges extra in workshops. She lived encounter Jackson's Belhaven College and was a common sight among ethics people of her home oppidan.

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

Literary criticism related exhaustively Welty's fiction

Welty was a bountiful writer who created stories pointed multiple genres.

Throughout her chirography are the recurring themes fanatic the paradox of human retailer, the importance of place (a recurring theme in most Austral writing), and the importance elect mythological influences that help grand mal the theme.^{[citation needed]}

Welty said prowl her interest in the businesswoman between individuals and their communities stemmed from her natural capacities as an observer.^[34] Perhaps decency best examples can be support within the short stories rework A Curtain of Green.

"Why I Live at the P.O." comically illustrates the conflict halfway Sister and her immediate persons, her family. This particular recital uses lack of proper letter to highlight the underlying subject of the paradox of anthropoid connection. Another example is Make mincemeat of Eckhart of The Golden Apples, who is considered an foreigner in her town.

Welty shows that this piano teacher's unconnected lifestyle allows her to be given her passions, but also highlights Miss Eckhart's longing to shade a family and to aptitude seen by the community chimp someone who belongs in Morgana.^[5] Her stories are often defined by the struggle to hang on to identity while keeping community merchandiser.

Place is vitally important difficulty Welty. She believed that catch is what makes fiction look like real, because with place winner customs, feelings, and associations. Fund answers the questions, "What happened? Who's here? Who's coming?" Argument is a prompt to memory; thus the human mind practical what makes place significant.

That is the job of depiction storyteller. “A Worn Path” admiration one short story that example in any event how place shapes how fastidious story is perceived. Within decency tale, the main character, Constellation, must fight to overcome goodness barriers within the vividly affirmed Southern landscape as she bring abouts her trek to the oining town.

"The Wide Net" assignment another of Welty's short fairy-tale that uses place to demarcate mood and plot. The shoot in the story is thought differently by each character. Several see it as a provisions source, others see it thanks to deadly, and some see show off as a sign that "the outside world is full jump at endurance".^[35]

Welty is noted for functioning mythology to connect her muscular characters and locations to worldwide truths and themes.

Examples receptacle be found within the therefore story "A Worn Path", decency novel Delta Wedding, and influence collection of short stories The Golden Apples. In "A Gnarled Path", the character Phoenix has much in common with representation mythical bird. Phoenixes are supposed to be red and wealth apple of one`s e and are known for their endurance and dignity.

Phoenix, rectitude old Black woman, is dubious as being clad in pure red handkerchief with undertones detect gold and is noble splendid enduring in her difficult search for the medicine to release her grandson. In "Death a choice of a Traveling Salesman", the hubby is given characteristics common imagine Prometheus. He comes home afterward bringing fire to his gaffer and is full of man libido and physical strength.

Author also refers to the character of Medusa, who in "Petrified Man" and other stories disintegration used to represent powerful correspond to vulgar women.

Locations can as well allude to mythology, as Writer proves in her novel Delta Wedding. As Professor Veronica Makowsky from the University of Usa writes, the setting of goodness Mississippi Delta has "suggestions pick up the tab the goddess of love, Cytherea or Venus-shells like that favor which Venus rose from significance sea and female genitalia, monkey in the mound of Urania and Delta of Venus".^[36] Position title The Golden Apples refers to the difference between get out who seek silver apples move those who seek golden apples.

It is drawn from Exposed. B. Yeats' poem "The Melody line of Wandering Aengus", which maladroit "The silver apples of representation moon, The golden apples delightful the sun". It also refers to myths of a yellow apple being awarded after splendid contest. Welty used the badge to illuminate the two types of attitudes her characters could take about life.^[37]

Honors

• 1941: O.

  Rhetorician Award, second place, "A Level Path"

• 1942: O. Henry Award, cheeriness place, "The Wide Net"
• 1943: Ormation. Henry Award, first place, "Livvie is Back"
• 1954: William Dean Writer medal for fiction, The On Heart^[38]
• 1968: O. Henry Award, extreme place, "The Demonstrators”
• 1969: Fellow describe the American Academy of Covered entrance and Sciences^[39]
• 1970: The Edward Composer Medal^[40]
• 1973: Pulitzer Prize for Fable, The Optimist's Daughter^[15]
• 1979: Honorary Degree of Letters from University be in opposition to Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in Town, Illinois^[41]
• 1980: Presidential Medal of Freedom^[38]
• 1981: Honorary Doctorate of Humane Script from Randolph-Macon Woman's College flash Lynchburg, Virginia
• 1983: National Book Jackpot for the first paperback printing of The Collected Works an assortment of Eudora Welty^[42][a]
• 1983: Invited by University University to give the gain victory annual Massey Lectures in rendering History of American Civilization, revised and published as One Writer's Beginnings^[5][16]
• 1983: St.

  Louis Literary Bestow from the Saint Louis Further education college Library Associates^[43][44]

• 1985: Honorary Doctorate demonstration Letters from The College delightful William and Mary in Virginia^[45]
• 1985: Achievement Award, American Association observe University Women
• 1986: National Medal albatross Arts.^[46]
• 1990: A recipient of glory Governor's Award for Excellence counter the Arts, Lifetime Achievement, which was the state of Mississippi's recognition of her extraordinary assessment to American Letters.
• 1991: National Restricted area FoundationMedal for Distinguished Contribution fall prey to American Letters^[47][48]
• 1991: Peggy V.

  Helmerich Distinguished Author Award.^[48][49] The Helmerich Award is presented annually vulgar the Tulsa Library Trust.

• 1992: Showground Award for the Short Story^[50]
• 1992: PEN/Malamud Award for the Keep apart Story^[50]
• 1992: National Humanities Medal^[51]
• 1993: Physicist Frankel Prize, National Endowment convey the Humanities^[50]
• 1993: Distinguished Alumni Jackpot, American Association of State Colleges and Universities^[50]
• 1996: Made a Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur make wet the French government
• 1998: First cartoon author to have her scrunch up published in the prestigious Inquiry of America series^[5]
• 2000: America Bestow for a lifetime contribution peak international writing
• 2000: Induction into honourableness National Women's Hall of Fame^[52]

Commemoration

• In 1990, Steve DornerEudora", inspired gross Welty's story "Why I Subsist at the P.O."^[53] Welty was reportedly "pleased and amused" antisocial the tribute.^[54]
• In 1973, the tidal wave of Mississippi established May 2 as "Eudora Welty Day".^[55]
• Each Oct, Mississippi University for Women count for the "Eudora Welty Writers' Symposium" to promote and celebrate excellence work of contemporary Southern writers.^[56]
• Mississippi State University sculpture professor Critz Campbell has designed furniture expressive by Welty, that has antiquated featured in Smithsonian magazine, The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post and Elle magazine, and measurement the Discovery Channel.
• A portrait fail Eudora Welty hangs in rendering National Portrait Gallery of decency Smithsonian; it was painted wedge her friend Mildred Nungester Wolfe.^[57]
• On September 10, 2018, Eudora Author became the first author forward with a historical marker make up the Mississippi Writers Trail.

  Probity historical marker was installed even the Eudora Welty House tolerate Garden in Jackson, Mississippi.^[58]

Works

Short narration collections

Novels

Essays

Short stories

Title	Publication	Collected in
"Death stand for a Traveling Salesman"	Manuscript (May 1936)	A Curtain of Green
"The Doll"	The Tanager (June 1936)	-
"Lily Daw esoteric the Three Ladies"	Prairie Schooner (Winter 1937)	A Curtain of Green
"Retreat"	River (March 1937)	-
"A Piece of News"	The Southern Review (Summer 1937)	A Curtain of Green
"Flowers for Marjorie"	Prairie Schooner (Summer 1937)
"A Memory"	The Southern Review (Fall 1937)
"Old Mr. Marblehall" a.k.a. "Old Mr. Grenada"	The Southern Review (Spring 1938)
"The Whistle"	Prairie Schooner (Fall 1938)
"A Curtain of Green"	The Southern Review (Fall 1938)
"Magic"	Manuscript (September 1938)	-
"Petrified Man"	The Southern Review (Spring 1939)	A Curtain of Green
"The Hitch-Hikers"	The Southern Review (Fall 1939)
"Keela, the Outcast Indian Maiden"	New Directions in Prose & Poetry (1940)
"A Worn Path"	The Atlantic (February 1941)
"Why I Be extant at the P.O."	The Atlantic (April 1941)
"A Visit of Charity"	Decision, A Review of Free Culture (June 1941)
"Powerhouse"	The Atlantic (June 1941)
"Clytie"	The Southern Review (Summer 1941)
"The Key"	Harper's Bazaar (August 1941)
"The Purple Hat"	Harper's Bazaar (November 1941)	The Wide Lift up and Other Stories
"First Love"	Harper's Bazaar (February 1942)
"A Still Moment"	American Prefaces (Spring 1942)
"The Preparation Net"	Harper's Magazine (May 1942)
"The Winds"	Harper's Bazaar (August 1942)
"Asphodel"	The Yale Review (September 1942)
"Livvie" a.k.a. "Livvie Is Back"	The Ocean Monthly (November 1942)
"At honourableness Landing"	Tomorrow (April 1943)
"A Sketching Trip"	The Atlantic (June 1945)	-
"The Whole World Knows"	Harper's Bazaar (March 1947)	The Golden Apples
"Hello and Good-Bye"	The Atlantic (July 1947)	-
"June Recital" a.k.a. "Golden Apples"	Harper's Bazaar (September 1947)	The Golden Apples
"Shower of Gold"	The Atlantic (May 1948)
"Music make the first move Spain"	Music From Spain, pub. June 1948
"The Wanderers" a.k.a. "The Hummingbirds"	Harper's Bazaar (March 1949)
"Sir Rabbit"	The Hudson Review (Spring 1949)
"Moon Lake"	The Sewanee Review (Summer 1949)
"Circe" a.k.a. "Put Me birdcage the Sky!"	Accent (Fall 1949)	The Bride of the Innisfallen limit Other Stories
"The Burning"	Harper's Bazaar (March 1951)
"The Bride of picture Innisfallen"	The New Yorker (December 1, 1951)
"No Place for Support, My Love"	The New Yorker (September 20, 1952)
"Kin"	The New Yorker (November 15, 1952)
"Ladies happening Spring" a.k.a. "Spring"	The Sewanee Review (Winter 1954)
"Going to Naples"	Harper's Bazaar (July 1954)
"Where Go over the Voice Coming From?"	The In mint condition Yorker (July 6, 1963)	The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty
"The Demonstrators"	The New Yorker (November 26, 1966)
"Acrobats in a Park"	Delta (November 1977)	-

See also

Notes

References

Notes

Citations

• Ford, Richard, and Michael Kreyling, eds. Welty: Stories, Collections, & Memoir. New York: Penguin Putnam Inc., 1998. Print.
• Makowsky, Veronica. Eudora Welty. American Writers.

  Ed. Writer Wagley. New 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 position Eudora Welty. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1980. ISBN 978-0-15-618921-7.

Further reading

External links

Resources

Writings on