Eugenia Price
Encyclopedia
Eugenia Price was an American author
best known for her historical novels which were set in the American South.
family in Charleston, West Virginia
. Her father, Walter was a dentist. At the age of ten Eugenia decided that she wanted to be a writer, an ambition encouraged by her mother Anna. She submitted a poem to her school's literary magazine. In 1932 she graduated from high school
, declared herself an atheist and decided to pursue a career in dentistry instead of writing. After attending Ohio University
for two years, Eugenia Price became the only female student to be enrolled in Ohio's Northwestern Dentistry School. After studying dentistry for two years, she decided to pursue a career in writing again.
In 1939 she was hired by NBC
to work on their radio series "In Care Of Aggie Horn", where she worked until 1942 when she left NBC and was hired by Procter & Gamble
. In 1945 she formed her own production company named "Eugenia Price Productions" and continued to write serials for Procter & Gamble
.
, an act which would have a profound effect on her career through the 1950s. After briefly considering changing careers, she instead took over directing and writing the religious radio drama, "Unshackled!", sponsored by the Pacific Garden Mission
in Chicago and first broadcast on WGN (AM)
. In 1953 Eugenia Price published the book "Discoveries Made From Living My Life" which launched her career as an inspirational novelist. She would spend the 1950s writing inspirational novels and speaking at churches and civic events.
historical novels set in the American South, many of which were critically acclaimed. Her early works, particularly the "St Simons Trilogy" -which consists of the books "The Beloved Invader" (1965), "New Moon Rising" (1969) and "Lighthouse
" (1972) were extensively researched and based on real people. This is in contrast to her later novels, such as "Another Day" (1984) and "The Waiting Time" (1997) which featured her own characters. Other historical novels include her "The Georgia Trilogy" consisting of "Bright Captivity", "Where Shadows Go", and "Beauty From Ashes." The "Florida Trilogy" has "Don Juan McQueen", "Maria", and "Margaret's Story." Then she has a "Savannah Quartet" with "Savannah", "To See Your Face Again", "Before the Darkness Falls", and "Stranger In Savannah."
After moving in 1965 to St. Simons, Georgia
with her long-time companion, the writer Joyce Blackburn (who assisted her with research), Eugenia Price became active in many local causes; most of which involved protecting the local environment from the effects of industrialisation.
She died in Brunswick, Georgia
on May 28, 1996 of congestive heart failure
. She is buried just yards from Anson Dodge and his two wives. Her tombstone reads "After her conversion to Jesus Christ, October 2, 1949, she wrote Light...and eternity and love and all are mine at last."
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
best known for her historical novels which were set in the American South.
Biography
Price was born into a middle classMiddle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
family in Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
. Her father, Walter was a dentist. At the age of ten Eugenia decided that she wanted to be a writer, an ambition encouraged by her mother Anna. She submitted a poem to her school's literary magazine. In 1932 she graduated from high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, declared herself an atheist and decided to pursue a career in dentistry instead of writing. After attending Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
for two years, Eugenia Price became the only female student to be enrolled in Ohio's Northwestern Dentistry School. After studying dentistry for two years, she decided to pursue a career in writing again.
In 1939 she was hired by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
to work on their radio series "In Care Of Aggie Horn", where she worked until 1942 when she left NBC and was hired by Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
. In 1945 she formed her own production company named "Eugenia Price Productions" and continued to write serials for Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble
Procter & Gamble is a Fortune 500 American multinational corporation headquartered in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio and manufactures a wide range of consumer goods....
.
Conversion to Christianity and Inspirational Career
In 1949 Eugenia Price embraced ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, an act which would have a profound effect on her career through the 1950s. After briefly considering changing careers, she instead took over directing and writing the religious radio drama, "Unshackled!", sponsored by the Pacific Garden Mission
Pacific Garden Mission
Pacific Garden Mission is a homeless shelter in the South Loop section of Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1877, by Colonel George Clarke and his wife, Sarah. It has been nicknamed, "The Old Lighthouse." It is the oldest such shelter in Chicago...
in Chicago and first broadcast on WGN (AM)
WGN (AM)
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is the only radio station owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
. In 1953 Eugenia Price published the book "Discoveries Made From Living My Life" which launched her career as an inspirational novelist. She would spend the 1950s writing inspirational novels and speaking at churches and civic events.
Career As A Historical Novelist And Community Activist
In 1961 Eugenia Price visited St. Simons Island, Georgia during a book signing tour. In the cemetery for Christ Church, she saw a tombstone for the Reverend Anson Dodge and his two wives. This inspired her to research the area, including history and famous figures. She would spend the remainder of her life writing detailedhistorical novels set in the American South, many of which were critically acclaimed. Her early works, particularly the "St Simons Trilogy" -which consists of the books "The Beloved Invader" (1965), "New Moon Rising" (1969) and "Lighthouse
Lighthouse (novel)
Lighthouse is a 1972 novel by Eugenia Price, the third and last of St Simons Trilogy. Previous two were- The Beloved Invader and New Moon Rising .The story centers around a man James Gould- founder of the Southern dynasty...
" (1972) were extensively researched and based on real people. This is in contrast to her later novels, such as "Another Day" (1984) and "The Waiting Time" (1997) which featured her own characters. Other historical novels include her "The Georgia Trilogy" consisting of "Bright Captivity", "Where Shadows Go", and "Beauty From Ashes." The "Florida Trilogy" has "Don Juan McQueen", "Maria", and "Margaret's Story." Then she has a "Savannah Quartet" with "Savannah", "To See Your Face Again", "Before the Darkness Falls", and "Stranger In Savannah."
After moving in 1965 to St. Simons, Georgia
St. Simons, Georgia
St. Simons is a census-designated place located on St. Simons Island in Glynn County, Georgia, United States. Both the community and the island are commonly considered to be one location, known simply as "St. Simons Island", or locally as "The Island". St...
with her long-time companion, the writer Joyce Blackburn (who assisted her with research), Eugenia Price became active in many local causes; most of which involved protecting the local environment from the effects of industrialisation.
She died in Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick, Georgia
Brunswick is the major urban and economic center in southeastern Georgia in the United States. The municipality is located on a harbor near the Atlantic Ocean, approximately 30 miles north of Florida and 70 miles south of South Carolina. Brunswick is bordered on the east by the Atlantic...
on May 28, 1996 of congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure often called congestive heart failure is generally defined as the inability of the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the needs of the body. Heart failure can cause a number of symptoms including shortness of breath, leg swelling, and exercise intolerance. The condition...
. She is buried just yards from Anson Dodge and his two wives. Her tombstone reads "After her conversion to Jesus Christ, October 2, 1949, she wrote Light...and eternity and love and all are mine at last."