Patrick D. Smith
Encyclopedia
Patrick D. Smith, is an American author and member of the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. His work has been nominated three times for the Pulitzer Prize
and five times for the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Born in Mendenhall, Mississippi in 1927, Smith attended the University of Mississippi
; he earned his B.A.
in 1947, and continued his studies until 1959, when he completed his M.A.
. Smith worked in public affairs at Hinds Junior College until 1962, and at the University of Mississippi
until 1966, when he moved to Florida and took the position of Director of Public Relations at Brevard Community College
.
Smith wrote his first novel, The River is Home when he was 21. It is the story of the Skeeters, a poor family of "river rats" in Mississippi. His next novel was Forever Island, the story of an old Seminole
Indian struggling against development of the land he has lived on his whole life. That was followed by Allapattah, another novel of the Seminole culture. Smith's next book, Angel City is the story of a poor family's struggles after being ensnared in a migrant camp. It was made into a CBS
movie of the week, starring John Walton
and Captain Terrell.
Smith's best known novel is A Land Remembered
. This book is a multi-generational novel of the MacIvey family, detailing their struggles from early Florida pioneers in the Kissimmee prairie to wealthy tycoons. Smith also co-wrote The Last Ride with Glen "Pee Wee" Mercer.
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
and five times for the Nobel Prize for Literature.
Born in Mendenhall, Mississippi in 1927, Smith attended the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
; he earned his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1947, and continued his studies until 1959, when he completed his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
. Smith worked in public affairs at Hinds Junior College until 1962, and at the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
until 1966, when he moved to Florida and took the position of Director of Public Relations at Brevard Community College
Brevard Community College
Brevard Community College, founded in 1960, is a community college on Florida's Space Coast, in Brevard County, Florida. It has four campuses in Cocoa, Melbourne, Palm Bay, and Titusville, as well as an Aerospace program at Kennedy Space Center and a Virtual Campus...
.
Smith wrote his first novel, The River is Home when he was 21. It is the story of the Skeeters, a poor family of "river rats" in Mississippi. His next novel was Forever Island, the story of an old Seminole
Seminole
The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...
Indian struggling against development of the land he has lived on his whole life. That was followed by Allapattah, another novel of the Seminole culture. Smith's next book, Angel City is the story of a poor family's struggles after being ensnared in a migrant camp. It was made into a CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
movie of the week, starring John Walton
John Walton
John Walton is the name of:* John Walton , Georgia Continental Congressman, signer of the Articles of Confederation* Sir John Lawson Walton , British MP and Attorney General of England and Wales...
and Captain Terrell.
Smith's best known novel is A Land Remembered
A Land Remembered
A Land Remembered is a best-selling novel written by author Patrick D. Smith, and published in 1984 by Pineapple Press. It is historical fiction set in pioneer Florida...
. This book is a multi-generational novel of the MacIvey family, detailing their struggles from early Florida pioneers in the Kissimmee prairie to wealthy tycoons. Smith also co-wrote The Last Ride with Glen "Pee Wee" Mercer.