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Leon Richard Forrest (January 8, 1937 – November 6, 1997) was an African American novelist. His novels concerned mythology, history, and Chicago.

Forrest was born into a middle-class family in Chicago. His mother was Catholic and from New Orleans, while his father's family was Baptist. His paternal great-grandmother had a role in his early upbringing. Forrest later attended a racially integrated high school after winning an award, but he was a generally mediocre student except for writing. His parents divorced in 1956; his mother remarried, and the couple opened a liquor store.

Forrest attended Wendell Phillips grade school and Hyde Park High School.^[1] He then attended Wilson Junior College for a year, and then took classes at Roosevelt University and the University of Chicago before dropping out, leaving to serve as a Public Information Officer in the military^[2]. After leaving the service, he returned to the University of Chicago and worked for the Catholic Interracial Council's Speakers Bureau. In 1969, he began working for Muhammad Speaks, a Nation of Islam newspaper. Forrest would become the last non-Muslim editor of the paper.

His first novel, There is a Tree More Ancient than Eden, came out in 1973, and included an introduction from Ralph Ellison. Nobel Prize Laureate Toni Morrison served as publisher's editor for his first three novels^[3]. From 1985 to 1994, he headed the African American Studies department at Northwestern University. He cited Charlie Parker, Dylan Thomas, William Faulkner, Eugene O'Neill, Ralph Ellison, and his parents' religions as inspiration.^[4]

He died in Evanston, Illinois.

Bibiliography

There is a Tree More Ancient than Eden
The Bloodworth Orphans
Two Wings to Veil My Face
Divine Days
Meteor in the Madhouse

References

^ Cawelti, John G. "Leon Forrest: Introductions and Interpretations". Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997, p. 3
^ Cawelti, John G. "Leon Forrest: Introductions and Interpretations". Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997, p. 4-5
^ Cawelti, John G. "Leon Forrest: Introductions and Interpretations". Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997, p. 4
^ Northwestern University

External links

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[1] Cawelti, John G. "Leon Forrest: Introductions and Interpretations". Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997, p. 3

[2] Cawelti, John G. "Leon Forrest: Introductions and Interpretations". Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997, p. 4-5

[3] Cawelti, John G. "Leon Forrest: Introductions and Interpretations". Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997, p. 4

[4] Northwestern University

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 Forrest was born into a middle-class family in Chicago. His mother was [[Catholicism|Catholic]] and from [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]], while his father's family was [[Baptist]]. His paternal great-grandmother had a role in his early upbringing. Forrest later attended a racially integrated high school after winning an award, but he was a generally mediocre student except for writing. His parents divorced in 1956; his mother remarried, and the couple opened a liquor store.
-Forrest attended Wendell Phillips grade school and [[Hyde Park High School]].<ref>Cawelti, John G. "Leon Forrest: Introductions and Interpretations". Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997, p. 3</ref> He then attended Wilson Junior College for a year, and then took classes at [[Roosevelt University]] and the [[University of Chicago]] before dropping out, leaving to serve as a Public Information Officer in the military<ref>Cawelti, John G. "Leon Forrest: Introductions and Interpretations". Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997, p. 4-5</ref>. After leaving the service, he returned to the University of Chicago and worked for the Catholic Interracial Council's Speakers Bureau. In 1969, he began working for ''[[Muhammed Speaks]]'', a [[Nation of Islam]] newspaper. Forrest would become the last non-Muslim editor of the paper.
+Forrest attended Wendell Phillips grade school and [[Hyde Park High School]].<ref>Cawelti, John G. "Leon Forrest: Introductions and Interpretations". Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997, p. 3</ref> He then attended Wilson Junior College for a year, and then took classes at [[Roosevelt University]] and the [[University of Chicago]] before dropping out, leaving to serve as a Public Information Officer in the military<ref>Cawelti, John G. "Leon Forrest: Introductions and Interpretations". Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997, p. 4-5</ref>. After leaving the service, he returned to the University of Chicago and worked for the Catholic Interracial Council's Speakers Bureau. In 1969, he began working for ''[[Muhammad Speaks]]'', a [[Nation of Islam]] newspaper. Forrest would become the last non-Muslim editor of the paper.
 His first novel, ''There is a Tree More Ancient than Eden'', came out in 1973, and included an introduction from [[Ralph Ellison]]. Nobel Prize Laureate [[Toni Morrison]] served as publisher's editor for his first three novels<ref>Cawelti, John G. "Leon Forrest: Introductions and Interpretations". Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1997, p. 4</ref>. From 1985 to 1994, he headed the African American Studies department at [[Northwestern University]]. He cited [[Charlie Parker]], [[Dylan Thomas]], [[William Faulkner]], [[Eugene O'Neill]], [[Ralph Ellison]], and his parents' religions as inspiration.<ref>[http://findingaids.library.northwestern.edu/fedora/get/inu:inu-ead-nua-11-3-1-3/inu:EADbDef11/getBiographicalHistory Northwestern University]</ref>