Pat Conroy (1945-2016) - Southern Novelist and Memoirist, Author of "The Prince of Tides" and "The Great Santini"

[DaveO]

Five years ago when the literature section was unveiled I asked about posting about Pat Conroy, my favorite American novelist. I never got around to it.  I don’t think my words can do his words justice.

Kathleen Parker, the editorialist, fellow denizen of the low country of South Carolina, and good friend of Conroy just wrote a wonderful piece about her late friend.

She gives examples of his prose.  His descriptive powers were magical.   After first reading his literature so many decades ago and having the time I visited the South Carolina  Coast just to breath be same air and walk the same paths.  I was not the only person to do so specifically inspired by Conroy.

[DaveO]

More on Pat Conroy.  Conroy loved Thomas Wolfe.   That makes sense.

I had no idea there was an annual festival focused on Conroy.  In a general sense that might be the last kind of event I’d consider attending but for him it’s high on my list.   

Janis Ian who never met him memorialized him with these words.

Conroy made beautiful word magic