Lyle Saxon: A Critical Biography

by James W. Thomas

A long-time resident of New Orleans, Lyle Saxon (1891-1946) was a widely known author, journalist, bon vivant, and intimate friend to some of the most prestigious writers of his generation. In this study of Saxon's life and creative works, james Thomas retraces the odyssey of this multi-talented son of the Old South from his days as a reporter on the New orleans Times-Picayune to the literary salons of New York's Greenwich Village. Upon his return to New Orleans, he served as director of the W.P.A. Federal Writer's Project and became a legend in the city he dearly loved and celebrated in such popular histories as Fabulous New Orleans, Lafitte the Pirate, and Old Louisiana. His only novel, Children of Strangers (1937), was lavishly praised for its frank and sensitive portrayal of race relations in the segregated South. Editor, short story writer, novelist, popular historian, and perceptive witness to his times, Lyle Saxon comes vividly to life in this well-crafted biography that focuses new attention on an important figure in Southern literature. This book is complemented by a chronology of Saxon's published works, a bibliography of critical studies devoted to his writings, and an index.

246 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Dr. James W. Thomas, Professor of English, Pepperdine University.

Thomas' academic interests surround Faulkner, J.K. Rowling, Toni Morrison, and, Poetry and poetics.