Ahead of Her Time: The Trailblazing Life and Literary Legacy of Ann Head

by Nancy Thode

A blue blood and a bohemian, author Ann Head was an essential voice of mid-century fiction, known for challenging societal norms and amplifying women’s struggles in an era that often silenced them. Now, for the first time, her mysterious personal life is unveiled through the lens of her eldest daughter, Nancy Thode. Through meticulous archival work and transcriptions of Head’s journals, Thode offers an intimate portrait of a writer whose life and fiction were deeply intertwined — one who influenced a generation of writers, including her student, the acclaimed Pat Conroy, who noted in his autobiography that "every time I sell a book, I put a rose on her grave."

More than just a biography, this book is a celebration of Ann Head’s enduring legacy. Featuring a selection of her published stories, it invites readers to experience her boundary-pushing prose firsthand. It also includes never-before-seen letters from a young Pat Conroy, whose early poems and admiration for Head reveal her lasting impact on one of the South’s most celebrated literary voices. Perfect for longtime fans and new readers alike, this book is essential reading for anyone drawn to revolutionary women, literary history, and the inescapable connection between life and art.

384 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2025

Reviews

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good literary biography. I love to read about how writers start their careers and all the ups and downs of the literary life. I had never read Ann Head’s fiction before starting this book, but I knew of her as author Pat Conroy’s teacher and mentor. Through this biography, AHEAD OF HER TIME written by Head’s eldest daughter, Nancy Thode, I learned more about the literary heritage of Beaufort. At one time, it was a hangout for scribes such as E. B. White of Charlotte’s Web fame, and John Marquand (whose writer son once dated Jackie Kennedy). Happily, several of Head’s short stories appear at the end of the book. It’s hard to believe now that women’s magazines once published such sophisticated, edgy stories, and that they paid $10,000 per story, which would be a fortune even by today’s standards. I really enjoyed this introduction to Ann Head and her work.

[Lynn Faulkner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I most enjoyed reading Ann's actual writings at the end of the book! I will be finding some more if her writings beyond the ones her daughter thoughtfully included in this beautifully written memoir of her mother. I was initially introduced to this author and book due to her local Beaufort connection but found her journey and writing fascinating and beyond local lore!!