Price, Reynolds, 1933-2011

By Source, Fair use, Link

Reynolds Price was born Edward Reynolds Price, in Macon, North Carolina, on 1 February 1933. He earned his B.A. degree from Duke University (1955) while on a full scholarship. After graduating, Price won a Rhodes scholarship, which allowed him to attend Merton College, Oxford. In 1958, Price received his Bachelor of letters from Merton College. His thesis focused on the English poet John Milton. Upon his return from Oxford, Price secured a position in the English department of Duke University. He remained at Duke for the rest of his career.

While teaching at Duke, Price's writing flourished. He authored 38 novels, short stories and memoirs. His first novel, A Long and Happy Life (1962), earned him the William Faulkner Foundation Award (1963). In 1984 Price learned that he had a tumor on his spine. After undergoing surgery and radiation, the tumor went away but left him a paraplegic for the rest of his life. The experience and the continuing pain and paralysis, had a profound impact on both his personal life and his literary career. Reportedly, he became more patient and observant as a man and more prolific as a writer. Price remained single and life alone by choice. He was also openly homosexual having his first affair with British writer Stephen Spender, during a visit to Spender's home during Christmas 1957. On 20 January 2011 at the age of 77, Reynolds Price died from complications from a heart attack.