Flannery O'Connor

Flannery oconnor home

Robie with Flannery 1947

Andalusia (farmhouse); Milledgeville, Georgia; January 29, 2011

American writer and essayist

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O'Connor in 1947

Native name
Born	Mary Flannery O'Connor 1925-03-25 Savannah, Georgia, U.S.
Died	August 3, 1964(1964-08-03) (aged 39) Milledgeville, Georgia, U.S.
Resting place
Pen name
Nickname
Occupation	Writer
Language
Nationality	American

Mary Flannery O'Connor (March 25, 1925 – August 3, 1964) was an American writer and essayist. She wrote two novels and 32 short stories, as well as a number of reviews and commentaries. She is best known for her works of Southern Gothic literature, which often feature grotesque characters and explore themes of morality and ethics.

Early Life

O'Connor was born in Savannah, Georgia, to Edward Francis O'Connor and Regina Cline. She was an only child. In 1938, the family moved to Milledgeville, Georgia, where her father died of systemic lupus erythematosus in 1941. O'Connor attended the Peabody High School and later the Georgia State College for Women (now Georgia College & State University), where she edited the college literary magazine.

Education

O'Connor earned a bachelor's degree in social sciences in 1945. She then attended the University of Iowa, where she was accepted into the prestigious Iowa Writers' Workshop. She received a Master of Fine Arts degree in 1947.

Career

O'Connor's first novel, Wise Blood, was published in 1952. It was followed by a collection of short stories, A Good Man Is Hard to Find, in 1955. Her second novel, The Violent Bear It Away, was published in 1960. A second collection of short stories, Everything That Rises Must Converge, was published posthumously in 1965.

O'Connor's writing is often characterized by its exploration of religious themes and the human condition. Her work frequently features grotesque characters and settings, and she is known for her use of dark humor and irony.

Personal Life

O'Connor was diagnosed with lupus in 1951, the same disease that had killed her father. Despite her illness, she continued to write and publish until her death. She lived with her mother on a farm in Milledgeville, where she raised peacocks and other birds.

Death

O'Connor died on August 3, 1964, at the age of 39, from complications of lupus. She is buried in Memory Hill Cemetery in Milledgeville.

Legacy

O'Connor's work has had a significant impact on American literature. She is considered one of the greatest short story writers of the 20th century. Her work continues to be studied and admired for its unique style and profound themes.

Related Pages

• Southern Gothic
• Christian realism
• Iowa Writers' Workshop
• Georgia College & State University
• Wise Blood
• A Good Man Is Hard to Find (short story collection)
• Everything That Rises Must Converge

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