Edward P. Jones
Edward P. Jones
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Edward Percy Jones was born on October 10, 1945, in Washington, D.C. He is often referred to simply as Edward P. Jones.
Birth and Death Dates
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October 10, 1945 – May 21, 2020
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Jones was an American short story writer and novelist. His work often explored the lives of African Americans in Washington, D.C., during the mid-20th century.
Early Life and Background
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Edward P. Jones grew up in a working-class family in the Hillcrest neighborhood of Washington, D.C. His early life was marked by poverty and hardship, with his father struggling to find steady employment. Despite these challenges, Jones developed a love for reading and writing at an early age.
Jones attended Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, where he began to develop his writing skills. After high school, he attended American University but did not graduate. Instead, he worked odd jobs while continuing to write in his spare time.
Major Accomplishments
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In 1992, Jones published his first collection of short stories, _Lost in the City_. The book received critical acclaim and established Jones as a rising star in the literary world. Over the next several years, Jones continued to publish short story collections, including _The Secret Life of Walter Mitty_ (1998) and _All Aunt Miriam_ (2003).
In 2004, Jones published his first novel, _The Known World_. The book tells the story of a group of African American slave owners in antebellum Virginia. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2004 and established Jones as one of the leading voices in contemporary American literature.
Notable Works or Actions
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Jones's writing often explored themes of poverty, racism, and social justice. His stories frequently featured complex, nuanced characters struggling to navigate the challenges of their lives.
In addition to his literary work, Jones was a dedicated teacher and mentor. He taught creative writing at several institutions, including George Washington University and New York University.
Impact and Legacy
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Edward P. Jones's impact on American literature cannot be overstated. His writing helped to give voice to the experiences of African Americans in Washington, D.C., during a time when few writers were exploring this subject matter.
Jones's use of lyrical prose and innovative narrative structures raised the bar for short story writers everywhere. His influence can be seen in the work of many younger writers, including those who have been inspired by his exploration of social justice themes.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Edward P. Jones is widely quoted and remembered for his powerful, nuanced writing style. His stories often explored the complexities of human experience with a depth and sensitivity that was rare in contemporary American literature.
Jones's commitment to social justice and his dedication to mentoring younger writers have made him a beloved figure in the literary community. His legacy continues to inspire new generations of writers and readers alike.
Quotes by Edward P. Jones
When you grow up with a mother who has to wash dishes and clean hotel rooms, you know the importance of having a job, and you can't be without a job for any length of time, or you will be without anything.
We leave, we run away and don’t realize how much we’ll need to go back home one day. The South is like that. It’s the worst mama in the world and it’s the best mama in the world.
Render your body to them” his father had taught, “but know your soul belongs to God.
Moses had thought that it was already a strange world that made him a slave to a white man, but God had indeed set it twirling and twisting every which way when he put black people to owning their own kind. Was God even up there attending to business anymore?
But where, in all she taught her son, was it about thou shall own no one, havin been owned once your own self. Don’t go back to Egypt after God done took you outa there.
Priscilla watched her husband as he slowly drifted into sleep, and once he was asleep, she took hold of his hand and put it to her face and smelled all of the outside world that he had brought in with him and then she tried to find sleep herself.
Until I can read a story physically, with the eyes, it doesn’t seem to exist for me.
Most crimes and misdemeanors by slaves were dealt with by their masters; they could even hang a slave if he killed another slave, but that would have been like throwing money down a well after the slave had already thrown the first load of money down, as William Robbins once told Skiffington.
At first I read mostly books by Southern authors – black and white – because almost all the people I knew were born and raised in the South, starting with my mother. I remember I got a lot of Erskine Caldwell.
