Louisiana Louisiana LiteratureLiteratureThe Perspectives of LouisianaThe Perspectives of Louisiana

as Viewed byas Viewed by John Kennedy Toole and Shirley John Kennedy Toole and Shirley

Ann GrauAnn Grau

Presented ByPresented By Adele George & Kathy ArmitAdele George & Kathy Armit

Loyola UniversityLoyola University

JohnKennedyToole December 17, 1937- March 26, 1969

Career : Education: Taught at Hunter College, New York Tulane University English,1958

University of Southwestern Louisiana Columbia University, Masters in

St. Mary’s Dominican College, New English, 1959

Orleans 1959-1968 Tulane University, post Graduate

Military Service: US Army 1962-63 studies, 1965

Pulitzer Prize in Fiction 1981

Faulkner Award nomination from P.E.N., 1981

John Kennedy Toole’sJohn Kennedy Toole’sCultural BackgroundCultural Background

• Native born and raised in New Orleans

• Born to eccentric parents John and Thelma Ducoing Toole.

•Father was a Car Salesman

•Mother was a school teacher

•Both of his parents were of Irish descent, however his mother’s ancestors not only included 19th century Irish settlers but also included early French settlers of South Louisiana

                   

John Kennedy Toole’s John Kennedy Toole’s

PublicationsPublications

Novels

• A Confederacy of Dunces, first edition, published in 1980

• A comedic novel that takes place in 1960’s New Orleans. • Focuses on the grossly overweight Ignatius Riley who considers himself a genius and aspires to be a reformer.

John Kennedy TooleJohn Kennedy TooleCritical CommentsCritical Comments

• Many critics praised Toole for his Many critics praised Toole for his creativity and ability to recreate New creativity and ability to recreate New Orleans with such accuracy.Orleans with such accuracy.

• Others, mainly local to New Orleans, felt Others, mainly local to New Orleans, felt that the book portrays New Orleans in a that the book portrays New Orleans in a less than favorable light.less than favorable light.

Interesting Facts: TooleInteresting Facts: Toole• Highly intelligent – he skipped 2 grades and consistently ranked first in his classes.• Awarded a National Merit Scholarship after High School.• Toole wrote his first book at the age of 16, The Neon Bible.

• Published 1989• Committed suicide by asphyxiation.

• Contributing factors:• Dependent parents • Sexuality was in question• Rejection of his book by various publishers.

• Only his mother knew the contents of his suicide note.

• The note was destroyed shortly after she read it.• She never revealed its contents.

ShirleyAnnGrau

Born : Education: July 8, 1929 - Tulane University- New Orleans, Louisiana BA with Honors in English

Career: Memberships: Novelist and Short Story Writer The Company of Great Louisiana Creative Writing Teacher Southern Short Story Writers University of New Orleans 1966-1967 The Authors Guild Pulitzer Prize Winner 1965 Authors League of America Phi Beta Kappa.

Cultural BackgroundCultural Background Daughter of Adolph (dentist) and Katherine GrauDaughter of Adolph (dentist) and Katherine Grau Raised in Alabama and Louisiana during the Raised in Alabama and Louisiana during the

1940’s and 50’s, a period of time that races were 1940’s and 50’s, a period of time that races were segregated by law in the south segregated by law in the south

She received most of her childhood education in She received most of her childhood education in Alabama but returned to New Orleans her senior Alabama but returned to New Orleans her senior year of high school year of high school

She married in 1955 to James Kern Feibleman and She married in 1955 to James Kern Feibleman and had four childrenhad four children

Grau and her family spent their winter months in Grau and her family spent their winter months in Metairie and spent summers at Martha’s Vineyard.Metairie and spent summers at Martha’s Vineyard.

Currently lives in New Orleans and continues to Currently lives in New Orleans and continues to writewrite

Shirley Shirley Ann Ann Grau’sGrau’sPublicationsPublications

SHORT STORY COLLECTIONSSHORT STORY COLLECTIONSThe Black Prince and Other The Black Prince and Other

Stories, Knopf (New York City), Stories, Knopf (New York City), 1955, 1955,

ThThe e Wind Shifting WestWind Shifting West,, Knopf, Knopf, 1973. 1973.

Nine Women, Knopf, 1985. Nine Women, Knopf, 1985. Selected Stories, Louisiana State Selected Stories, Louisiana State

University Press, 2003University Press, 2003NOVELSNOVELSThe Hard Blue SkyThe Hard Blue Sky,, Knopf, 1958. Knopf, 1958. The House on Coliseum StreetThe House on Coliseum Street,,

Knopf, 1961, reprinted, Avon Knopf, 1961, reprinted, Avon (New York City), 1986. (New York City), 1986.

The Keepers of the HouseThe Keepers of the House,, Knopf, Knopf, 1964. 1964.

The Condor Passes, Knopf, 1971. The Condor Passes, Knopf, 1971. Evidence of Love, Random House Evidence of Love, Random House

(New York City), 1977. (New York City), 1977. Roadwalkers, Knopf, 1994. Roadwalkers, Knopf, 1994. The Condor Passes, Transaction The Condor Passes, Transaction

Publishers, 2000. Publishers, 2000.

Summaries of Short Story Summaries of Short Story Collections Collections

The Black Prince and Other StoriesThe Black Prince and Other Stories, This collection , This collection details the struggles of blacks and whitesdetails the struggles of blacks and whites living living on the bayous. The characters try to redefine on the bayous. The characters try to redefine their gender and racial roles with the beginnings their gender and racial roles with the beginnings of new standards and opportunities while being of new standards and opportunities while being haunted by remnants of the old south. haunted by remnants of the old south.

The Wind Shifting West,The Wind Shifting West, she details the difficult she details the difficult issues of alienation and miscommunication issues of alienation and miscommunication issues in families and marriages. issues in families and marriages.

Nine WomenNine Women, describes the struggles of daughters, , describes the struggles of daughters, wives, and mothers in handling the past, wives, and mothers in handling the past, widowhood, aging and death.widowhood, aging and death.

Summaries of NovelsSummaries of NovelsKeepers of the House,Keepers of the House, her Pulitzer Prize-winning her Pulitzer Prize-winning

novel and masterpiece is of a romantic novel and masterpiece is of a romantic relationship between a black housekeeper and a relationship between a black housekeeper and a member of aristocratic white family. She explores member of aristocratic white family. She explores the different attitudes on generational sagas and the different attitudes on generational sagas and issues of race.issues of race.

The Condor PassesThe Condor Passes explores a racial dynamic in a explores a racial dynamic in a relationship between a wealthy employer and his relationship between a wealthy employer and his black servant. black servant.

In the Evidence of LoveIn the Evidence of Love, explores an investigation , explores an investigation into how several women strive by attempting to into how several women strive by attempting to give their personnel identity to find a place for give their personnel identity to find a place for themselves. themselves.

RoadwalkersRoadwalkers refers to an orphaned black girl left refers to an orphaned black girl left wandering during the Depression, growing up in wandering during the Depression, growing up in an orphanage and then details her life of success an orphanage and then details her life of success as an adult and providing her daughter with a life as an adult and providing her daughter with a life of privileges (Contemporary Literary Criticism). of privileges (Contemporary Literary Criticism).

Shirley Ann Grau Critical Shirley Ann Grau Critical CommentsComments

Critical responses to Grau’s fiction vary, some critics appreciate Critical responses to Grau’s fiction vary, some critics appreciate her abilityher ability

in handling social history in a mythic fashion while others see her in handling social history in a mythic fashion while others see her prose asprose as

superficial, predictable reworking of stereotypessuperficial, predictable reworking of stereotypes

The evaluation done by Pearson resulted in Grau shortchanging The evaluation done by Pearson resulted in Grau shortchanging herself herself

far more than her readers after being hailed in 1955 as one of the far more than her readers after being hailed in 1955 as one of the mostmost

promising of Southern writers and in 1963 as a potential genius ofpromising of Southern writers and in 1963 as a potential genius ofO’Connor, Capote, and Styron. . The examination of nature in her O’Connor, Capote, and Styron. . The examination of nature in her

workworkoverall is reflected as Grau having a philosophical view. Lending overall is reflected as Grau having a philosophical view. Lending

Grau’sGrau’svision of nature as undeveloped and misleading in most of hervision of nature as undeveloped and misleading in most of herstories. stories.

The review by Flanagan places Grau’s works up there with those byThe review by Flanagan places Grau’s works up there with those byother thematic and regional writers such as Katherine Ann Porter,other thematic and regional writers such as Katherine Ann Porter,Flannery O’Connor, and Eudora Weltz. Grau’s collection of short storiesFlannery O’Connor, and Eudora Weltz. Grau’s collection of short storiesis described as being elegant, handpicked and representative of ais described as being elegant, handpicked and representative of atraditional subject dear to this Southern writer’s heart. Grau’s techniquestraditional subject dear to this Southern writer’s heart. Grau’s techniquesand sensibilities about race, class, power, love, loss and salvation areand sensibilities about race, class, power, love, loss and salvation areeffectively understandable in her eighteen tales. Grau’s is praised for hereffectively understandable in her eighteen tales. Grau’s is praised for hergift in her ability to capture the atmosphere with her powers ofgift in her ability to capture the atmosphere with her powers ofdescription and prose, leading her to the top of American short storydescription and prose, leading her to the top of American short storystylist. stylist.

The review by Bukoski notes that in Ann Grau’s fiction, house expressesThe review by Bukoski notes that in Ann Grau’s fiction, house expressesa focus for the psychological and emotional lives of families. He writesa focus for the psychological and emotional lives of families. He writesthat her fictional houses are alienated because they become the failure ofthat her fictional houses are alienated because they become the failure ofThe family when social and emotional life turns inharmonious inside theThe family when social and emotional life turns inharmonious inside thehouse .house .

Interesting facts: GrauInteresting facts: Grau

It is noted that most of her novels It is noted that most of her novels have some reference in their titles to have some reference in their titles to some form of “home”, an interviewer some form of “home”, an interviewer described place as having an described place as having an important meaning to her.important meaning to her.

A couple of her books had Bible A couple of her books had Bible scriptures written in the epigraph scriptures written in the epigraph that were reflective of a theme being that were reflective of a theme being emphasized in the book.emphasized in the book.

Perspectives of New Perspectives of New OrleansOrleans

These two writers wrote about These two writers wrote about characters that reflected what they characters that reflected what they observed through their eyes.observed through their eyes.

Toole saw a medium between what Toole saw a medium between what tourist and locals thought of New tourist and locals thought of New Orleans and expressed it through his Orleans and expressed it through his characters.characters.

Grau saw the interactions between Grau saw the interactions between black and whites and captured them black and whites and captured them as people (not color)as people (not color)

with problems. with problems.

QuESTIONS?

Source citationsSource citations1. Bukoski, Anthony. (1987).The Burden of Home: Shirley Ann Grau’s Fiction.1. Bukoski, Anthony. (1987).The Burden of Home: Shirley Ann Grau’s Fiction.CritiqueCritique, Summer , Summer

87,87,Vol. 28, Issue 4,181-193 Vol. 28, Issue 4,181-193

2. Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2204. <http.//galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC>2. Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2204. <http.//galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC>jankaulins.com/image…s/thumbnails/193.jpg

3. Flanagan, Margaret. (2203). Selected Stories. 3. Flanagan, Margaret. (2203). Selected Stories. Booklist.Booklist. 9/15/2003, Vol.100, Issue 2, 209. 9/15/2003, Vol.100, Issue 2, 209.4. Pearson, Ann. (1975). Shirley Ann Grau: Nature is the Vision. 4. Pearson, Ann. (1975). Shirley Ann Grau: Nature is the Vision. CritiqueCritique, Vol.17, Issue 2, 47-58., Vol.17, Issue 2, 47-58.5. “Shirley Ann Grau.” 5. “Shirley Ann Grau.” Contemporary Southern WritersContemporary Southern Writers, 1999. Biography Resource , 1999. Biography Resource

Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomas Gale. 2005Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomas Gale. 2005<http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC.><http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC.>

6. Meanor, Patrick, and Crane, Gwen “Shirley Ann Grau.” 6. Meanor, Patrick, and Crane, Gwen “Shirley Ann Grau.” Dictionary of Literary Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 218: American Short- Story Writers Since World WarII, Biography, Volume 218: American Short- Story Writers Since World WarII,

Second Series.Second Series. 1999: 173-179. Biography Resource Center. Gale Group Databases. 1999: 173-179. Biography Resource Center. Gale Group Databases. LoyolaLoyolaUniversity New Orleans Library, New Orleans, LA.University New Orleans Library, New Orleans, LA.<http://www.galenet.galegroup.com.><http://www.galenet.galegroup.com.>

7.“Shirley Ann Grau.” 7.“Shirley Ann Grau.” Contemporary Literary Criticism. Contemporary Literary Criticism. Biography Resource Center. Gale Biography Resource Center. Gale GroupGroup

Databases. Loyola University New Orleans Library, New Orleans, LA.Databases. Loyola University New Orleans Library, New Orleans, LA. <http://www.galenet.galegroup.com.><http://www.galenet.galegroup.com.>8. Jax Brewery photo – Used with permission from Zehnder Communications8. Jax Brewery photo – Used with permission from Zehnder Communications9. Holditch, W. Kenneth. “Another Kind of Confederacy: John Kennedy Toole.” 9. Holditch, W. Kenneth. “Another Kind of Confederacy: John Kennedy Toole.” LiteraryLiterary

New Orleans in the Modern WorldNew Orleans in the Modern World. Ed. Richard S. Kennedy. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State . Ed. Richard S. Kennedy. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 1998, 102-122.UP, 1998, 102-122.

10. Pol Nevils, Rene’, and Deborah George Hardy. 10. Pol Nevils, Rene’, and Deborah George Hardy. Ignatius RisingIgnatius Rising. Baton Rouge: Louisiana . Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 2001.State UP, 2001.

11. Codrescu, Andrei. “A Confederacy of Dunces, Making the Natives Wince.” Rev. of A 11. Codrescu, Andrei. “A Confederacy of Dunces, Making the Natives Wince.” Rev. of A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Chronicle of Higher EducationChronicle of Higher Education 46.32. 14 46.32. 14 Apr. 2004: B7-8. Academic Search Preminer. EBSCOHost, Loyola Univ. Lib. New Orleans, Apr. 2004: B7-8. Academic Search Preminer. EBSCOHost, Loyola Univ. Lib. New Orleans, LA. 16 Mar. 2005. http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=3069421LA. 16 Mar. 2005. http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&an=3069421