A Portrait of Southern Writers [Hardcover]

Curt Richter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2000

The American South has a passionate affinity with literature that no other region of the country can claim and its heritage is evoked and constantly reinvented through the words of its writers. Internationally acclaimed photographer Curt Richter was initially commissioned by Louis D. Rubin Jr. to photograph the founding members of the Fellowship of Southern Writers. The first author to sit for him for the series was Eudora Welty and the last was Alice Walker. The project grew and, over a seven-year period, he photographed over two hundred writers associated with the South. Nearly one hundred of these images appear in A Portrait of Southern Writers, beyond any doubt the most stunning and significant collection of photographs of Southern writers ever gathered. Richter does not focus his lens on capturing the totality of a writer's life but instead presents a moment of reflection in the face of the pressure of, and struggles with, creativity. What emerges is a collection of spectacular images which silently offer us insight into these writers' lives.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Curt Richter is a Fulbright Award-winning photographer. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Hill Street Press (October 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1892514834
• ISBN-13: 978-1892514837
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 9.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,354,699 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Beautiful, October 24, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Portrait of Southern Writers (Hardcover)

The photos in this book are quite stunning. Somehow Curt Richter has produced scores of telling and rather magnetic portraits of sagging, middle-aged Southern writers. A miracle of sorts. Highly recommended.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Portrait of Southern Writers, November 23, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: A Portrait of Southern Writers (Hardcover)

I have never been so captivated by photographs that truly depict their subjects. I have seen other works by Curt Richter and he truly is the finest portrait photographer of our time. Congratulations on a sensational effort. It came at the right time of year because I am giving this book to all of my friends and family.

4.0 out of 5 stars PENETRATING PORTRAITS, June 26, 2002

By 

Bonita L. Davis - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Portrait Of Southern Writers (Hardcover)

What can a picture tell you about a person? The answer is quite a bit as you view these penetrating portraits of southern writers. A writer's tools are words to convey a story. Photographer Curt Richter uses his tools of lighting, mood, camera and the subjects themselves to reveal a visual story whose impact goes far beyond words.

Over a seven year period, Curt scoured the country taking pictures of those writers associated with the south. His labor was not in vain for he blessed us with outstanding visual views of these writers not seen before. These are not a compilation of formal studio portraits nor are they casual snapshots. You are given a series of sepia toned pictures whose faces, postures, hues and eyes that reveal something more about the subject that meets the eye.

Ralph Ellison looks like an elder statesman as he peers into the lens. Larry King appears to have a haunting quality as his off focus face gives us a smile. Eugene Walter looks like a supplicant in prayer or is he just fooling us? Let your mind and imagination decide as you see this wonderful display of southern authors. For those of you who are collectors of some of their works, you will be delighted with their pictures.

Robert Coles has written a foreward to the book introducing us into the world of southern writers and the culture of the south. Ann Beattie provides us with her observations regarding this collection through her afterword. Now relax, open this book and reflect upon these gifted writers of prose and poetry who have shared their wares with the world.