Ferriday, Louisiana

by Elaine Dundy

Local history.

244 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 1991

About the author

Elaine Dundy (1921–2008) grew up in New York City and Long Island. After graduating from Sweet Briar College in 1943 she worked as an actress in Paris and, later, London, where she met her future husband, the theater critic Kenneth Tynan. Dundy wrote three novels, The Dud Avocado (1958), The Old Man and Me (1964), and The Injured Party (1974); a play, My Place (produced in 1962); biographies of Elvis Presley and the actor Peter Finch; a study of Ferriday, Louisiana; and a memoir, Life Itself!

Reviews

[Tara]

I must admit that I had never heard of Ferriday and bought this book because a) I'm a fan of Elaine Dundy, and b) I'm fascinated by the American South. Dundy was the author of a classic debut novel (The Dud Avocado) and was married for a decade to Kenneth Tynan. After they separated, Dundy began writing non-fiction and this book follows another Southern story, Elvis and Gladys. 'Ferriday' is much more than a local history and really brings to life the characters, history and atmosphere of a unique town.