Synopses & Reviews
This compelling volume offers the first full portrait of the life and work of writer Lillian Smith (1897-1966), the foremost southern white liberal of the mid-twentieth century. Smith devoted her life to lifting the veil of southern self-deception about race, class, gender, and sexuality. Her books, essays, and especially her letters explored the ways in which the South's attitudes and institutions perpetuated a dehumanizing experience for all its peoplewhite and black, male and female, rich and poor. Her best-known books are
Strange Fruit (1944), a bestselling interracial love story that brought her international acclaim; and
Killers of the Dream (1949), an autobiographical critique of southern race relations that angered many southerners, including powerful moderates. Subsequently, Smith was effectively silenced as a writer.
Rose Gladney has selected 145 of Smith's 1500 extant letters for this volume. Arranged chronologically and annotated, they present a complete picture of Smith as a committed artist and reveal the burden of her struggles as a woman, including her lesbian relationship with Paula Snelling. Gladney argues that this triple isolationas woman, lesbian, and artistfrom mainstream southern culture permitted Smith to see and to expose southern prejudices with absolute clarity.
Review
Makes a significant contribution to American cultural studies.
Journal of American History
Review
These letters reinforce and expand the image of Smith that emerges from a reading of her books.
Progressive
Review
Gladney's perceptive, sensitive presentation of a woman too long ignored for her influence and acumen is exemplary.
Women's Review of Books
Review
This collection reveals a great deal about Lillian Smith as person, artist, beleaguered social critic and lover.
New York Times Book Review An invaluable collection.
Voice Literary Supplement These letters reinforce and expand the image of Smith that emerges from a reading of her books.
Progressive Gladney's perceptive, sensitive presentation of a woman too long ignored for her influence and acumen is exemplary.
Women's Review of Books Makes a significant contribution to American cultural studies.
Journal of American History
About the Author
Margaret Rose Gladney is associate professor of American studies at the University of Alabama.