James Boyd (novelist)

James Boyd (novelist)

James Boyd (July 2, 1888February 25, 1944), the son of a wealthy coal and oil family in Pennsylvania, was an American novelist.

Boyd's parents, John Yeomans Boyd and Eleanor Gilmore Herr Boyd, were from North Carolina and he was born in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. He attended Princeton University where he wrote verse and fiction for the "Tiger" and was its managing editor in his senior year. After graduation in 1910, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, and served overseas with the Army Ambulance Service in World War I. After World War I, due to many illnesses, he was forced into retirement and moved to Weymouth to a house his grandfather built near Southern Pines. Boyd's first book, "Drums", was set in Edenton, North Carolina, and has been called the best novel written about the American Revolution [cite book |author=Magill, Frank N. (ed.) |title=Cyclopedia of World Authors |chapter=James Boyd |year=1958 |publisher=Harper & Row |location=New York |pages=pp. 124–5 ] . He wrote five historical novels, including "Bitter Creek", which were thought to have elevated the genre through greater historical accuracy, psychological and sociological awareness, and formal craftsmanship.

In 1940, Boyd organized the Free Company of Players, a group of American writers. This was a coalition of talent that, despite the powerful opposition of right-wing conservative interests, produced a series of original radio plays in response to what they saw as antidemocratic attitudes prevalent in America due to the growing war in Europe. One of his major accomplishments was to bring to his hometown of Weymouth many of the finest writers of the time. Some of the writers who attended were Paul Green, Thomas Wolfe, Sherwood Anderson, William Faulkner, Struthers Burt, and John Galsworthy. In 1941, Boyd bought "The Pilot", a regional newspaper.

Bibliography

* "Drums" (1925)
* "Marching On" (1927)
* "Long Hunt" (1930)
* "Bitter Creek" (1939)
* "Roll River" (1935)
* "The Free Company Presents"
* "Eighteen Poems" (1944)
* "Old Pines and Other Stories"

External links

* [http://www.weymouthcenter.org/jamesboyd.htm The James Boyd Library]

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • James Boyd — may refer to:* James Boyd, 2nd Lord Boyd, Scottish peer * James Boyd (schoolmaster) (1795–1856), Scottish schoolmaster and author * James Boyd (novelist) (1888–1944), American novelist * James E. Boyd (1834–1906), American politician, governor of …   Wikipedia

  • Boyd (surname) — Boyd is a surname of Scottish origin, and may refer to:A*Adam Boyd, English footballer *Alan Lennox Boyd, British politician (Viscount Boyd) *Alan Stephenson Boyd, American politician *Alex Boyd, Scottish photographer *Alfred Boyd, Canadian… …   Wikipedia

  • James Gould Cozzens — Born August 19, 1903(1903 08 19) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Died August 9, 1978(1978 08 09) (aged 74) Stuart, Florida, U.S. Occupation …   Wikipedia

  • James Joyce — This article is about the 20th century writer. For other people with the same name, see James Joyce (disambiguation) …   Wikipedia

  • James Madison High School (New York) — school name = James Madison High School | native name = logo = motto =Education is the true foundation of civil liberty established = 1925 city = New York City state = NY province = Brooklyn country = United States campus = type = Public high… …   Wikipedia

  • William Boyd (writer) — William Boyd, CBE (born 7 March, 1952 in Accra, Ghana) is a contemporary Scottish novelist and screenwriter. BiographyOf Scottish descent, Boyd was born in Accra, Ghana on 7 March 1952 and spent much of his early life there and in Nigeria where… …   Wikipedia

  • Margo St. James — Born September 12, 1937 (1937 09 12) (age 74) Bellingham, Washington, Washington, USA Occupation Feminist activist Spouse Paul Avery …   Wikipedia

  • List of Irish people — This is a list of famous Irish people.It covers * People who were born on the island of Ireland and/or who have lived there for most of their lives. * People who, though not necessarily ever having been born or lived in Ireland, have been raised… …   Wikipedia

  • Deaths in 1997 — For earlier deaths, see Deaths in 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992 1991, ... For later deaths, see Deaths in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, ... Contents 1 …   Wikipedia

  • List of University of Florida people — Notable alumni or attendeescience and mathematics*Mark Adler, American researcher, known for his work in data compression, and creator of zlib and gzip *Linda H. Aiken, Current Director of the Center of Health Outcomes and Policy Research, and… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”