Francis Irby Gwaltney
{{short description|American novelist}}
Francis Irby Gwaltney (9 September 1921 in Traskwood, Arkansas – 27 February 1981) was a prolific Southern American author. He was the most well known author to have set his books in Arkansas.p. 170 Brooks Blevins, Arkansas/Arkansaw: How Bear Hunters, Hillbillies, and Good Ol' Boys Defined a State University of Arkansas Press 2009
Biography
Gwaltney was born in Traskwood, Arkansas, to Boulanger Gwaltney, M.D. (1887-1923), and Mary Effie Irby Gwaltney (1889-1945).{{cite book |last1=Gwaltney |first1=Francis Irby |title=A Moment of Warmth |date=1960 |publisher=Pan Books Ltd. |location=London, England}} After his father died, Gwaltney was raised in Charleston, Arkansas.
During World War II, he served with the 112th Cavalry in the Philippines Campaign (1944–45) where he met Norman Mailer.{{Cite web | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oVIEAAAAMBAJ&dq=norman+mailer+%2B+francis+gwaltney&pg=PA106 | title=LIFE| date=1965-09-24}}
Returning to Arkansas after the war, Gwaltney obtained his high school diploma, then earned a degree in English from the University of Arkansas. He married Emma Carolyn Calhoun on August 19, 1947,{{Cite web | url=http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3034 |title = Encyclopedia of Arkansas}} earned a master's degree in English in 1950 and taught at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas (1952-53, 1970-81) and Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana (1963-70).{{cite web |last1=Gwaltney |first1=Francis Irby |title=Academic Appointments, 1952, 1964-1980 |url=https://uark.as.atlas-sys.com/repositories/2/archival_objects/255223 |website=Francis Irby Gwaltney, Professional Papers, 1947-1980 |publisher=ArchivesSpace at the University of Arkansas |access-date=7 May 2024}}
He wrote his first novel The Yeller-Headed Summer with help of his war buddy, Norman Mailer. His most famous novel based on his war experiences was The Day the Century Ended that was filmed as Between Heaven and Hell.
Gwaltney wrote teleplays for Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Fugitive.{{Cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0350303/ | title=Francis Gwaltney| website=IMDb}}
Works
- The Yeller-Headed Summer (1954), republished as The Whole Town Knew (1955)
- The Day the Century Ended (1955), republished in paperback as Between Heaven and Hell (1961)
- A Moment Of Warmth (1957)
- Historic Washington, Arkansas: A Survey (1958)
- The Numbers of Our Days (1959), reprinted as The Violators (1960)
- A Step in the River: A Novel (1960), reprinted in paperback as Consent and Desire (1962)
- The Quicksand Years (1965)
- Destiny's Chickens (1973), reprinted in paperback with same title (1974)
- Idols and Axle Grease (1974)
Notes
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|Biography}}
- Francis Gwaltney in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3034
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Category:20th-century American novelists
Category:American male novelists
Category:United States Army personnel of World War II
Category:United States Army soldiers
Category:Writers from Arkansas
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:People from Charleston, Arkansas
Category:People from Saline County, Arkansas
Category:20th-century American male writers
Category:Screenwriters from Arkansas