Author Description

<P><B>An examination of a post–war novelist, actor, and playwright whose personal life parallels his award-winning works</B></P><P><I>Understanding James Leo Herlihy</I> is the first book-length study of one of America's most neglected post–war writers. Herlihy (1927–1993), an occasional actor, made his professional mark in life as a playwright and novelist. Herlihy produced a significant body of work, which includes numerous plays, two collections of short stories, and three novels. His best-known novel, <I>Midnight Cowboy,</I> was later adapted into a screenplay by John Schlesinger. It was the only X-rated movie to receive an Academy Award—three, in fact, in 1969: best picture, best director, and best adapted screenplay.</P><P>In <I>Understanding James Leo Herlihy,</I> Robert Ward examines Herlihy's writing with reference to its historical, cultural, and personal contexts. Ward portrays Herlihy as a product of his environment, influenced by the 1950s and 1960s culture, including the youth rebellion, the erosion of the traditional family, and the increasing sexual liberation. Herlihy's award-winning novels, plays, and short stories display persistent themes of displacement, alienation, and the loss of innocence—all themes that Ward views as parallel to Herlihy's personal life.</P><P><I>Understanding James Leo Herlihy</I> offers a detailed analysis of Herlihy's key works and their relation to his personal life. Through a biographical introduction, a detailed discussion of the major novels, plays, and short stories, and a substantial bibliography, Ward details the writer's critically and commercially successful works.</P>