Francis Irby Gwaltney
Encyclopedia
Francis Irby Gwaltney born 9 September 1921 in Traskwood, Arkansas died 27 February 1981 was a prolific Southern American author. He was the most well known author to have set his books in Arkansas.
.
During World War II he served with the 112th Cavalry
in the Philippines Campaign (1944–45) where he met Norman Mailer
.
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 in 1947, earned a Masters in English in 1950 and taught at various schools.
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
.
Biography
After his father died, Gwaltney was raised in Charleston, ArkansasCharleston, Arkansas
Charleston is a city in Franklin County, Arkansas, United States, and one of the two county seats of Franklin County. It is part of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area...
.
During World War II he served with the 112th Cavalry
112th Cavalry Regiment (United States)
The 112th Cavalry Regiment was a Texas National Guard Regiment that served in several Pacific campaigns during World War II.-Early history:...
in the Philippines Campaign (1944–45) where he met Norman Mailer
Norman Mailer
Norman Kingsley Mailer was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, and film director.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S...
.
Returning to Arkansas after the war, Gwaltney obtained his high school diploma, then earned a degree in English from the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
. He married Emma Carolyn Calhoun in 1947, earned a Masters in English in 1950 and taught at various schools.
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
Between Heaven and Hell (film)
Between Heaven and Hell is a 1956 20th Century Fox Cinemascope colour war film based on the novel The Day the Century Ended by Francis Gwaltney that the film follows closely...
.
Gwaltney wrote teleplays for Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents is an American television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock. The series featured dramas, thrillers, and mysteries. By the premiere of the show on October 2, 1955, Hitchcock had been directing films for over three decades...
and The Fugitive
The Fugitive (TV series)
The Fugitive is an American drama series produced by QM Productions and United Artists Television that aired on ABC from 1963 to 1967. David Janssen stars as Richard Kimble, a doctor from the fictional town of Stafford, Indiana, who is falsely convicted of his wife's murder and given the death...
.
Works
- The Yeller-Headed Summer (1954)
- The Whole Town Knew (1955)
- The Day the Century Ended (1955)
- A Moment Of Warmth (1957)
- Historic Washington, Arkansas: A Survey (1958)
- The Numbers of Our Days (1959)
- A Step in the River: A Novel/The Violators (1960)
- Consent and Desire (1962)
- The Quicksand Years (1965)
- Destiny's Chickens (1973)
- Idols and Axle Grease (1974)
External links
- Francis Gwaltney in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas http://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=3034