Frank Yerby
Frank Yerby: A Prolific Author of Our Time
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Frank William Yerby was born on September 24, 1916, in Montgomery, Alabama. He is also known as Frank Yerby or Frank Yerby Sr.
Birth and Death Dates
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Yerby was born on September 24, 1916, and passed away on November 29, 1991.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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He was an American novelist, short story writer, poet, playwright, and historian. Yerby's writing spanned multiple genres, including historical fiction, mystery, and romance.
Early Life and Background
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Yerby's childhood in the rural South had a profound impact on his writing style and thematic preoccupations. He grew up during the Great Depression, an experience that would later influence many of his works. After dropping out of school at the age of 12 to work as a sharecropper, Yerby eventually returned to formal education, graduating from Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Major Accomplishments
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Yerby's writing career was marked by numerous accomplishments, including:
Publishing 54 novels throughout his lifetime
Selling over 60 million copies worldwide
Winning multiple awards, such as the Mystery Writers of America Grand Master Award in 1973Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Yerby's most notable works include:
"A Tulane Romance" (1936)
"The Foxes of Harrow" (1946)
"Jubilee Trail" (1959)
Yerby was also a prolific short story writer, with his stories appearing in various publications.
Impact and Legacy
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Frank Yerby's impact on literature cannot be overstated. He is often credited with popularizing the historical romance genre, paving the way for authors like Katherine Neville and Ken Follett.
Yerby's writing not only entertained readers but also provided a unique perspective on American history and culture.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Frank Yerby is widely quoted and remembered due to his:
Prolific output, which earned him the reputation as one of the most published authors in history
Influence on popular culture, with many of his works adapted into films and TV shows
* Contributions to American literature, particularly in the historical romance genre
Yerby's legacy extends beyond his literary achievements, as he also inspired a new generation of writers through his writing workshops and lectures.
Quotes by Frank Yerby
It is my contention that a really great novel is made with a knife and not a pen. A novelist must have the intestinal fortitude to cut out even the most brilliant passage so long as it doesn’t advance the story.
It is my contention that a really great novel is made with a knife and not a pen. A novelist must have the intestinal fortitude to cut out even the most brilliant passage so long as it doesn't advance the story.
The middle years - the eighteen-seventies, 'eighties, 'nineties - were a time of moral bankruptcy when men stole millions by a stroke of the pen or by the simple expedient of printing tons of worthless paper.
Writing a novel is like building a wall brick by brick; only amateurs believe in inspiration.
About fifteen miles above New Orleans the river goes very slowly. It has broadened out there until it is almost a sea and the water is yellow with the mud of half a continent. Where the sun strikes it, it is golden.