Don't Fence Me In: An Anecdotal Biography of Lewis Grizzard, By Those Who Knew Him Best

by Debra Grizzard

Family members, friends, and associates offer their affectionate reminiscences of the late Southern humorist, sharing memories of his youth, his career as a journalist, his personal life, and the health problems that ultimately resulted in his untimely death

Genres: Biography

289 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[John Grace · Rating 3 out of 5]

From junior high to college, Lewis Grizzard was a regular read for me in newspapers and books. Could probably blame him as an influence for getting a degree in print journalism, one of my biggest regrets in life. He was a Silent Generation crank who criticized the Baby Boomers' deconstruction of culture and reads better now than he did then. Lewis' writings seem prophetic these days. This anecdotal bio by his friends makes me glad I left the newspaper business in 1996. The stress of the biz probably inspired Grizzard to drink and smoke into an early death at age 47. Sure, he had a bad heart, but those leisure habits didn't help. Worth reading if you were a fan. Otherwise read Elvis is Dead and I Don't Feel So Good Myself for an intro to his writing.

[Charles Lovelace, III]

Very insightful, as told by those who knew him best. As stated, this book contains anecdotes about Lewis Grizzard. Like Lewis, some are humorous, and some serious, but all delightful. If you're a fan of Lewis, this book should be on your reading list.

[David Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't Fence Me In: An Anecdotal Biography of Lewis Grizzard edited by Chuck Perry (Longstreet Press 1995) (Biography). Lewis Grizzard, dead since 1994, is still Georgia's favorite bad boy. A native of the tiny village of Moreland Georgia, Lewis attended the University of Georgia and was a Bulldog through and through. He was extraordinarily precocious; he knew from childhood that he wanted to be a writer, and by age twenty-three he had risen to the post of sports editor of Georgia's largest daily paper the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Her went on to become a daily columnist, a stand-up comic of great reknown, and the author of twenty-five books. His humor appealed mainly to small town southerners; his humor was gentle and “down home.” He died at the age of forty-seven of heart problems which were greatly exacerbated by his lifelong habits of heavy drinking and heavy smoking. His life was not without pain or complication; Lewis was raised in a single-parent household after his father abandoned Lewis and his mother when Lewis was a young boy. Lewis was a lifelong alcoholic and a serial groom; he certainly did love the ladies. He was thrice divorced, and listen to this: He married the fourth (and final) Mrs. Grizzard while he was in the hospital awaiting what proved to be his final surgery. He married on March 16th, went into surgery on March 18th, and never regained consciousness. He died two days later on March 20th after only five days of marriage! The first three quarters of this biography recounts Lewis' rise to fame and glory and follows with tales of Lewis and friends careening around the streets, the bars, and the strip clubs of Atlanta. The last quarter of this book is given over to the last Mrs. Grizzard to tell the tale of a woman who went from girlfriend to widow in the space of five days. She recounts in detail the story of their courtship (beginning with how he picked her up in a bar, that rascal) and his death. My rating: 7/10, finished 1/16/17. I bought my like-new hardback copy from McKay's for $0.75 on 1/11/17. HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[Marty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Lewis. Always funny with anecdotes of life.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

An insightful, honest (sometimes brutally so) look into the life of southern humorist/columnist Lewis Grizzard, written by some of his closest family and friends.

[Karen-Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Biography from those who knew him best.