Barry Benefield
Encyclopedia
Barry Benefield (May 12, 1877 Jefferson, Texas
– Sept. 22, 1971 Jefferson, Texas
) was an American writer, some of whose books were adapted for the cinema. His being born and spending much of his life in Texas is more than a biographical detail: Benefield had been mentioned as "One of The Lone Star writers", who "Followed the Southern tradition".
He was born in Jefferson
at a time when it was a major East Texas city, though its decline – due to becoming inaccessible to river traffic – happened in his own early years.
Benefield's father had a wagon yard where he worked in his youth. At that time the young Barry Benefield gained much knowledge of the region's character and lore, which would later influence his literary work. In 1897 his family purchased a house built in the 1860s, which would remain in Benefield's possession and where he would spend his last years.
Benefield graduated from the University of Texas and became a journalist and afterwards a novelist.
His wife was Lucille Stallcup (1886–1960), a fellow native of Jefferson. They were married at Chicago
in 1914. Lucille died at New York
in 1960.
Some of Benefield's books, such as "Valiant Is the Word for Carrie
" (1935), are written from the point of view of a Southerner who feels an exile living in the North, and who longs for the more carefree life of a small Southern town. This may have reflected the writer's own feeling. In retirement, Benefield returned to Jefferson and lived in his old family home until his death at the age of 94.
Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson is an historic city in Marion County in northeastern Texas, United States. The population was 2,024 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County, Texas, and is situated in East Texas...
– Sept. 22, 1971 Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson is an historic city in Marion County in northeastern Texas, United States. The population was 2,024 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County, Texas, and is situated in East Texas...
) was an American writer, some of whose books were adapted for the cinema. His being born and spending much of his life in Texas is more than a biographical detail: Benefield had been mentioned as "One of The Lone Star writers", who "Followed the Southern tradition".
Life
Barry Benefield was the son of Benjamin Jefferson Benefield (1839–1928), who run a wagon yard/feed store and of Harriet Adelaide née Barry (1850–1915) , who was herself a writer and who would encourage him to do the same.He was born in Jefferson
Jefferson, Texas
Jefferson is an historic city in Marion County in northeastern Texas, United States. The population was 2,024 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Marion County, Texas, and is situated in East Texas...
at a time when it was a major East Texas city, though its decline – due to becoming inaccessible to river traffic – happened in his own early years.
Benefield's father had a wagon yard where he worked in his youth. At that time the young Barry Benefield gained much knowledge of the region's character and lore, which would later influence his literary work. In 1897 his family purchased a house built in the 1860s, which would remain in Benefield's possession and where he would spend his last years.
Benefield graduated from the University of Texas and became a journalist and afterwards a novelist.
His wife was Lucille Stallcup (1886–1960), a fellow native of Jefferson. They were married at Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
in 1914. Lucille died at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1960.
Some of Benefield's books, such as "Valiant Is the Word for Carrie
Valiant Is the Word for Carrie
Valiant is the word for Carrie is a 1936 film starring Gladys George, Arline Judge, John Howard, Dudley Digges, Harry Carey, Isabel Jewell, and Hattie McDaniel. The movie was adapted by Claude Binyon from the novel of the same name by Barry Benefield...
" (1935), are written from the point of view of a Southerner who feels an exile living in the North, and who longs for the more carefree life of a small Southern town. This may have reflected the writer's own feeling. In retirement, Benefield returned to Jefferson and lived in his old family home until his death at the age of 94.
Books
- The chicken-wagon family (1925) - adapted to a film
- Short turns (1926)
- Bugles in the night (1927)
- A little clown lost (1928)
- Valiant is the word for CarrieValiant Is the Word for CarrieValiant is the word for Carrie is a 1936 film starring Gladys George, Arline Judge, John Howard, Dudley Digges, Harry Carey, Isabel Jewell, and Hattie McDaniel. The movie was adapted by Claude Binyon from the novel of the same name by Barry Benefield...
(1935) ) - adapted to a film - April was when it began (1939)
- Eddie and the archangel Mike (1943)
Stories (partial)
- Christmas eve's day (Woman's home companionWoman's Home CompanionWoman's Home Companion was an American monthly publication, published from 1873 to 1957. It was highly successful, climbing to a circulation peak of more than four million during the 1930s and 1940s....
, Dec. 1926) - The law is a jealous mistress (Woman's home companionWoman's Home CompanionWoman's Home Companion was an American monthly publication, published from 1873 to 1957. It was highly successful, climbing to a circulation peak of more than four million during the 1930s and 1940s....
, Dec. 1928) - God's old fields (Good housekeepingGood HousekeepingGood Housekeeping is a women's magazine owned by the Hearst Corporation, featuring articles about women's interests, product testing by The Good Housekeeping Institute, recipes, diet, health as well as literary articles. It is well known for the "Good Housekeeping Seal," popularly known as the...
, Dec. 1928) - Coming home (Collier's, Nov. 10, 1928)
- Love (in The World's One Hundred Best Short Stories [In Ten Volumes], (1927), volume four)
- With Banners Blowing (Women's Home Companion), in two collections published as Carrie Snyder, later expanded into the novel Valiant is the word for CarrieValiant Is the Word for CarrieValiant is the word for Carrie is a 1936 film starring Gladys George, Arline Judge, John Howard, Dudley Digges, Harry Carey, Isabel Jewell, and Hattie McDaniel. The movie was adapted by Claude Binyon from the novel of the same name by Barry Benefield...
.
Critical Opinion
"Jefferson native Barry Benefield was a writer who had serious intentions, but his work now seems dated and flat. The first section of his novel Valiant Is the Word for Carrie is excellent, but the rest of the novel is trivial. Nevertheless, Carrie was made into a film." (James Ward Lee, " Adventures with a Texas humanist" http://books.google.co.il/books?id=phKXOug7_qwC&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&dq=Barry+Benefield&source=bl&ots=fdam20EVGZ&sig=h2rvNs54Ln-cUeKUrhGcmTxePsM&hl=en&ei=2IU9TNGvFM-bOIbNsO8O&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CCIQ6AEwBzge#v=onepage&q=Barry%20Benefield&f=false)