Edward Reynolds Price (February 1, 1933 – January 20, 2011) was an American poet, novelist, dramatist, essayist and James B. Duke Professor of English at Duke University . Apart from English literature , Price had a lifelong interest in Biblical scholarship . He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters .
31-472: Price was born Edward Reynolds Price in Macon , North Carolina , on February 1, 1933, the first of two sons of William Solomon and Elizabeth Price. Both he and his mother narrowly survived an extremely taxing childbirth; family legend states that during these circumstances, Will Price prayed and made a promise to God that if his wife and son survived, he would quit drinking alcohol. Price's family, struggling under
62-437: A cancer survivor in his memoir A Whole New Life . Regarding his life after this tragedy, Price explains, "I'd have to say that, despite an enjoyable fifty-year start, these recent years since full catastrophe have gone still better. They've brought more in and sent more out – more love and care, more knowledge and patience, more work in less time." In 1987, Duke University gave Price its highest honor when it awarded him
93-443: A full scholarship to Duke University, where he continued writing, served as the editor of Duke's literary magazine, The Archive, was elected to Phi Beta Kappa his junior year and graduated summa cum laude . After graduating in 1955, Price received a Rhodes Scholarship and attended Merton College, Oxford . While at Oxford, Price formed important friendships with the poet W. H. Auden , Stephen Spender , Sir Neville Coghill and
124-466: A great deal of scholarly attention – certainly less than other members of his literary generation, such as John Updike , Philip Roth , Thomas Pynchon , Joyce Carol Oates , Toni Morrison , John Barth , Sylvia Plath , Susan Sontag , Don DeLillo , and Cynthia Ozick ." But although he is less well-known than such writers, Price is widely celebrated by the literary community and the majority of his readers. Macon, North Carolina Macon
155-605: Is a town located in Warren County , North Carolina , United States . As of the 2010 census , the town had a total population of 119. It is named for Nathaniel Macon , long-time Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives . According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km ), 0.4 square miles (1.0 km ) all land. At the 2020 census, there were 110 people, 33 households, and 18 families in
186-558: Is classified as a Southern writer, as his works are often especially associated with his lifelong home of North Carolina. Price's first ever published story, called "A Chain of Love", came in 1958. He wrote his first novel, A Long and Happy Life , and witnessed its publication in 1962. The work received the William Faulkner Foundation Award (1963) and has sold over a million copies. His 1986 novel Kate Vaiden also gained immense popularity and received
217-619: The National Books Critics Circle Award . Price composed a memoir entitled Clear Pictures in 1989 which directly led to the production of a Charles Guggenheim documentary about the author's lifetime. He completed another memoir called A Whole New Life in 1994 which chronicled his journey after the discovery of cancer in his spine. The Collected Poems , containing four volumes of poetry – Vital Provisions (1982), The Laws of Ice (1986), The Use of Fire (1990), and The Unaccountable Worth of
248-672: The William Faulkner Foundation Award for notable first novel ; the Ibero-American Award ; a scholarship for first-year University of Virginia undergraduates showing talent in creative writing; scholarships for African-Americans from Mississippi seeking higher education; and monetary gifts to a Boy Scouts of America "Negro summer camp" in Mississippi. The fund's assets derived primarily from Faulkner's Nobel Prize for Literature , and in later years, an "Associates" group contributed further funds. Faulkner also donated to
279-467: The census of 2000, there were 115 people, 45 households, and 34 families residing in the town. The population density was 252.8 inhabitants per square mile (97.6/km ). There were 63 housing units at an average density of 138.5 per square mile (53.5/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 81.74% White , 13.04% African American , 1.74% Native American , 0.87% Asian , 0.00% Pacific Islander , 0.00% from other races, and 2.61% from two or more races. 1.74% of
310-524: The University Medal for Distinguished Meritorious Service. Price died at the age of 77 on January 20, 2011, as a result of complications from a heart attack . The third volume of his three volumes of autobiography, Midstream, (Simon & Schuster, 2012) was completed by his long time friend Wallace Kaufman using his journals and a large archive of Price's letters. Over his career, Price produced 38 total novels, short stories, and memoirs. Price
341-509: The World (1997) – was published in 1997. Price entered the realm of pop culture with the release and Top-40 status of James Taylor 's song "Copperline," which he and Taylor wrote together. Bill Clinton characterized Price as one of his favorite authors. On the cover of the December 6, 1999 issue of Time magazine, Price's name appeared. Victor Strandberg explains, "Price's name
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#1732781098102372-469: The award to ameliorate the situation. The award was originally intended to support young writers, but the eligibility age was abolished soon after the project was undertaken; the only requirement was that the novel had to have been published after World War II. It was judged by individuals from across Latin America, and the winning novel was to be translated into English at Foundation expense. The date shown
403-571: The biographer Lord David Cecil . He devoted a significant portion of his literary studies, as well as his thesis, to English poet John Milton . Upon graduation with a B.Litt. in 1958, Price secured a position in the Duke University English department, where he stayed for the rest of his career, often teaching courses on Milton, creative writing, and the Gospels . Price made no secret from his close friends and colleagues that he
434-561: The economic climate of the Great Depression , resided in the rural North Carolina towns of Macon, Henderson , Warrenton , Roxboro , and Asheboro throughout his childhood. Rather than joining other boys his age in sports and outdoor activities, Price developed a childhood fondness for the arts – reading, writing, painting, and opera included. He attended Broughton High School in Raleigh , North Carolina and eventually received
465-539: The foundation, over several stages, all of the manuscripts that he had placed on deposit for safekeeping at the University of Virginia library. In 1968, Harold Ober Associates donated to the foundation "certain original records of William Faulkner." Founding members of the foundation included William Faulkner, Linton R. Massey Jr., Faulkner's daughter Jill Faulkner Summers and her husband, Paul Summers Jr. After Faulkner's death in 1962, his widow Estelle Faulkner joined
496-521: The foundation. The foundation was dissolved in 1970 and all its assets conveyed to the University of Virginia because of a failure of will on the part of the university, which tired of the obligation to award the prizes, and sued in order to divert the assets of the foundation to the university library. The original intent of the foundation's two literary awards was to support young writers. The William Faulkner Foundation Award for notable first novel
527-460: The gall to say "Am I also cured?" He turned to face me, no sign of a smile, and finally said two words—"That too." Despite the success of his best-selling novels and nationwide recognition on the cover of Time , Price has received a lesser degree of recognition than many of his contemporaries in American literature. James Schiff explains, "Despite the praise from reviewers, Price has not received
558-430: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 45 households, out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size
589-399: The setting of his 1986 novel, Kate Vaiden . Fannie Pennington , an activist, was also born and raised here. William Faulkner Foundation Award The William Faulkner Foundation (1960–1970) was a charitable organization founded by the novelist William Faulkner in 1960 to support various charitable causes, all educational or literary in nature. The foundation programs included
620-449: The town was $ 40,521 and the median income for a family was $ 55,625. Males had a median income of $ 26,667 versus $ 22,917 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 17,642. 5.7% of the population and 6.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, none were under the age of 18 and 14.8% were 65 or older. Macon is the birthplace of writer and professor at Duke University , Reynolds Price , and
651-555: The town was 101 (84.87%) white, 16 (13.45%) black, 1 (0.84%) Native American, and 1 (0.84%) from two or more races. None of the population was Hispanic or Latino. There were 52 households, out of which 13 (25%) had children under the age of 18 living with them, 29 (55.8%) were married couples living together, 7 (13.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1 (1.9%) was an unmarried opposite-sex couple, and 14 (26.9%) were non-families. 12 (23.1%) of all households were made up of individuals, and 9 (17.3%) had someone living alone who
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#1732781098102682-449: The town. The population density was 234.04 inhabitants per square mile (90.36/km ). There were 54 housing units at an average density of 114.9 per square mile (44.4/km ). At the 2010 census, there were 119 people, 52 households, and 38 families residing in the town. The population density was 253.2 inhabitants per square mile (97.8/km ). There were 63 housing units at an average density of 44.5 per square mile (17.2/km ). The racial makeup of
713-470: Was 'intricately braided in the core of [his] spinal cord'." Although surgery and radiation managed to remove the tumor from his spine, Price became a paraplegic and required a wheelchair for the rest of his life. After enduring these initial years, Price emerged from this trying period "a more patient and watchful person and a dramatically more prolific writer." He still bore, however, "colossal, incessant pain", as he described. He wrote about his experience as
744-408: Was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.94. In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.1% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 30.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males. The median income for a household in
775-399: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29, and the average family size was 2.68. In the town, the population was spread out, with 20 (16.8%) under the age of 18, 8 (6.7%) aged 18 to 24, 18 (15.1%) aged 25 to 44, 52 (43.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 21 (17.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 116.4 males. As of
806-457: Was gay, but he was not open about the fact until the gay rights movement was in full swing and friends began to die of AIDS. He preferred to say he was "queer" in lieu of gay. In the spring of 1984, a life-altering medical event occurred when Price reported difficulty walking and underwent testing at Duke University Hospital . James Schiff describes, "He soon learned of a 'pencil-thick and gray-colored' tumor, ten inches long and cancerous , which
837-475: Was judged by young faculty at the University of Virginia because "Faulkner felt that young persons can best understand and judge young writers.". The other award, The Ibero-American award, was inspired by Faulkner's visit to Venezuela in 1961, which he had made as part of a cultural diplomacy effort to improve U.S.-Venezuelan relations. Faulkner realized on the trip how many excellent novels by young Latin American writers were not translated into English and wanted
868-674: Was nearby asleep among them. ... Then one of the sleeping men woke and stood. I saw it was Jesus, bound toward me. ... Again I felt no shock or fear. All this was normal human event; it was utterly clear to my normal eyes and was happening as surely as any event of my previous life. ... Jesus bent and silently beckoned me to follow. ... Jesus silently took up handfuls of water and poured them over my head and back til water ran down my puckered scar. Then he spoke once—"Your sins are forgiven"—and turned to shore again, done with me. I came on behind him, thinking in standard greedy fashion, It's not my sins I'm worried about . So to Jesus' receding back, I had
899-502: Was next to a Renaissance portrait of Jesus alongside a headline that reads, 'Novelist Reynolds Price offers a new Gospel based on archeology and the Bible.' Inside the magazine, this cover story begins with Time 's statement that 'A great novelist and biblical scholar examines what faith and historical research tell us after 2,000 years and emerges with his own apocryphal Gospel'." Price lived alone, by choice, for all of his adult life and
930-562: Was openly homosexual . In 1957 he had an affair with the famous British poet Stephen Spender , visiting the Spender family home for Christmas. Shortly after dawn on July 3, 1984, in the midst of treatment for his tumor, Price awoke in his bed and claimed to have had a life-changing mystic experience and vision in which he came in contact with Jesus Christ at the Sea of Galilee . Price gives an account of this occurrence in A Whole New Life : It
961-458: Was the big lake of Kinnereth, the Sea of Galilee, in the north of Israel ... the scene of Jesus' first teaching and healing. I'd paid the lake a second visit the previous October. ... Still sleeping around me on the misty ground were a number of men in the tunics and cloaks of first-century Palestine . I soon understood with no sense of surprise that the men were Jesus' twelve disciples and that he