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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 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. |
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Forrest attended Wendell Phillips grade school and [[Hyde Park High School]].<ref>Cawelti, John G. |
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. |
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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. |
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>. The last novel published when he was alive, ''Divine Days'', was modeled on [[Ulysses]] by [[James Joyce]]<ref>Byerman, Keith. ''Angularity: An Interview with Leon Forrest - Interview''. ''African American Review'', Fall 1999. |
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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> |
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He died in [[Evanston, Illinois]]. |
He died in [[Evanston, Illinois]]. |
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*There is a Tree More Ancient than Eden (Random House, 1973) |
*There is a Tree More Ancient than Eden (Random House, 1973) |
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*The Bloodworth Orphans (Random House, 1977) |
*The Bloodworth Orphans (Random House, 1977) |
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*Relocations of the Spirit (Asphodel, 1994) |
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*Two Wings to Veil My Face (Asphodel, 1997) |
*Two Wings to Veil My Face (Asphodel, 1997) |
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*Divine Days (Another Chicago Press, 1992) |
*Divine Days (Another Chicago Press, 1992) |
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*[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2838/is_3_33/ai_58056039 Interview with Leon Forrest (fairly extensive)] |
*[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2838/is_3_33/ai_58056039 Interview with Leon Forrest (fairly extensive)] |
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{{AfricanAmerican |
{{AfricanAmerican}} |
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{{US-novelist-1930s |
{{US-novelist-1930s}} |
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Revision as of 01:26, 4 November 2010
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]. The last novel published when he was alive, Divine Days, was modeled on Ulysses by James JoyceCite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).
He died in Evanston, Illinois.
Bibiliography
- There is a Tree More Ancient than Eden (Random House, 1973)
- The Bloodworth Orphans (Random House, 1977)
- Relocations of the Spirit (Asphodel, 1994)
- Two Wings to Veil My Face (Asphodel, 1997)
- Divine Days (Another Chicago Press, 1992)
- Meteor in the Madhouse (Northwestern University, 2001)
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
External links
- Leon Forrest Papers, Northwestern University Archives, Evanston, Illinois
- Encyclopædia Britannica's Guide to Black History
- Interview with Leon Forrest (fairly extensive)
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