More About the Author
ERNEST LOCKRIDGE (b. Nov. 28, 1938) graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Honors from Indiana University in 1960. A Rhodes Scholarship finalist he was Woodrow Wilson and Lewis-Farmington Fellow at Yale University where he earned "Honors" in all his graduate classes, was awarded an Inaugural Woodrow Wilson Dissertation Fellowship (1962-3) and completed his M.A. and Ph.D. in English within three years (1960-3). He was hired by Yale's Department of English (1963-71)and taught at Yale during the Golden Age when its English Department was internationally rated Number One. Lockridge was selected Fellow at The Center for Advanced Study, University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana (1969-70). In May,1971, Yale's seven undergraduate literary prizes were won by his students,for work written under his supervision. Lockridge is author of three novels, one of which, PRINCE ELMO'S FIRE, was a Book-of-the-Month Club selection. His TWENTIETH CENTURY INTERPRETATIONS OF THE GREAT GATSBY went through 20 printings, remained in print for a quarter century, and continues to sell briskly over the Internet. All but one of his essays in literary criticism have been included in anthologies, and singled out for special praise. From 1971-91, Lockridge taught English at The Ohio State University where in 1976 he was promoted to Full Professor and in 1985 was awarded the University's premier award for teaching excellence, "The OSU Alumni Award for Distinguished Teaching." In 1991, he took "early retirement" after 28 years in full academic regalia, and has devoted himself to writing, jazz sax and clarinet, painting, family, and travel. TRAVELS WITH ERNEST, co-authored with his famous wife, sociologist and poet Laurel Richardson, was published in 2004. He delivered "The OSU Department of English Fifth Annual Emeriti Lecture," April 8, 2010. Emeritus Professor of English, Ernest is a jazz musician and painter of award-winning paintings that have appeared in solo exhibits, galleries, and on the covers of books. He is father of three, stepfather of two, grandfather of eight.
