William Humphrey (writer)
Encyclopedia
William Humphrey was an American novelist who wrote about small-town family life in rural Texas.
in 1924, Humphrey moved with his mother to Dallas at aged 13 after his father was killed in a car accident. He attended Southern Methodist University
and the University of Texas, but did not graduate from either school.
Humphrey taught at Bard College
in New York where he mentored playwright and author Sherman Yellen
prior to retiring from academia to write full time. He died of cancer in 1997, at the age of 73, in Hudson, New York
.
, was made into an 1960 MGM film, directed by Vincente Minnelli
and starring Robert Mitchum
and Eleanor Parker
. His second novel, The Ordways, was reviewed by the New York Times as "Funny, vivid and moving, this is a fine piece of work and a delight to read," and was compared to the writings of William Faulkner
and Mark Twain
.
Biography
Born in Clarksville, TexasClarksville, Texas
Clarksville is a city in Red River County, Texas, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 3,883. It is the county seat of Red River County.-Geography:Clarksville is located at ....
in 1924, Humphrey moved with his mother to Dallas at aged 13 after his father was killed in a car accident. He attended Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
and the University of Texas, but did not graduate from either school.
Humphrey taught at Bard College
Bard College
Bard College, founded in 1860 as "St. Stephen's College", is a small four-year liberal arts college located in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York.-Location:...
in New York where he mentored playwright and author Sherman Yellen
Sherman Yellen
Sherman Yellen is a playwright and screenwriter.- Biography :Sherman Yellen was born in 1932 to Nathan and Lillian Yellen. He attended the High School of Music & Art in Harlem and graduated from Bard College on the Hudson in 1953 where he met his future wife, Joan Fuhr...
prior to retiring from academia to write full time. He died of cancer in 1997, at the age of 73, in Hudson, New York
Hudson, New York
Hudson is a city located along the west border of Columbia County, New York, United States. The city is named after the adjacent Hudson River and ultimately after the explorer Henry Hudson.Hudson is the county seat of Columbia County...
.
Career
The author of thirteen books, including five novels, collections of short stories and a memoir, Humphrey's first novel, Home from the HillHome from the Hill (novel)
Home from the Hill is the first novel by author William Humphrey, published in 1958. It was made into a film two years after its publication....
, was made into an 1960 MGM film, directed by Vincente Minnelli
Vincente Minnelli
Vincente Minnelli was an American stage director and film director, famous for directing such classic movie musicals as Meet Me in St. Louis, The Band Wagon, and An American in Paris. In addition to having directed some of the most famous and well-remembered musicals of his time, Minnelli made...
and starring Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
and Eleanor Parker
Eleanor Parker
Eleanor Jean Parker is an American screen actress. Her versatility led to her being dubbed Woman of a Thousand Faces, the title of her biography by Doug McClelland.- Early life :...
. His second novel, The Ordways, was reviewed by the New York Times as "Funny, vivid and moving, this is a fine piece of work and a delight to read," and was compared to the writings of William Faulkner
William Faulkner
William Cuthbert Faulkner was an American writer from Oxford, Mississippi. Faulkner worked in a variety of media; he wrote novels, short stories, a play, poetry, essays and screenplays during his career...
and Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
.