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Reynolds Price

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Reynolds Price
Reynolds Price (born February_1, 1933, as Edward Reynolds Price) is a U.S. novelist, poet, dramatist, essayist and James B. Duke Professor of English at Duke University. Apart from English literature, Price has had a lifelong interest in ancient languages and biblical scholarship. He is also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Price was born in Macon, North Carolina and, after attending public schools of his native state, went to Duke University, where he graduated summa cum laude in 1955. Afterwards he went to Merton College, Oxford for three years as a Rhodes Scholar. After his return in 1958, he started teaching at Duke University, which he has been doing ever since. His first short stories were published in Duke's student literary periodical, Archive. Eudora Welty also helped Price get his first couple of books published; she sent one of his early stories, "Michael Egerton" to her own publisher. But Price's first book was not a collection of stories. It was a powerful novel entitled A Long and Happy Life. The novel is still regarded as one of his best today.

His other books of interest include his memoir Clear Pictures, and his novels The Tongues of Angels, Blue Calhoun, Kate Vaiden, Roxanna Slade and The Great Circle. Some believe his most recent works are not as captivating as his earlier writing. Some argue Noble Norfleet focuses too much on the sexual life of the eponymous protagonist, leaving behind what is really at stake: family relations. The recent The Good Priest's Son is a fair account of a 9/11 experience. But Price does not go very far with it. Mabry Kincaid, the good priest's son, is self-centered and selfish but he eventually starts considering others but it is too late. The simplest message here is that one should not take relatives for granted but instead show them affection and consideration.

Price is a Southern writer. All his books are set in the South and more particularly in his native North Carolina. Price once replied when asked why he chose to remain in North Carolina: "It's the place about which I have perfect pitch." Price has cited Southern writer Eudora Welty as one of his early influences. He has also been noted for his sexually frank writing, and the ambiguous nature of his own sexuality, which has been of critical interest to scholars. But this is not the main thing to focus on when working on his fiction. Rather, one should look for the proofs of love that have been missed, the names and faces of his characters tell a lot about their identity. Once the reader has entered Price's world, s/he is forever haunted by these stories that often stem from actual facts.

Price has received numerous literary honors, including the National Book Critics Circle Award, the William Faulkner Foundation Award, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for his memoir Clear Pictures (1989). He is also a member of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters. Price’s book, Feasting The Heart (2000), is a collection of controversial and personal essays, originally broadcast to great acclaim on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered.

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