James Agee
James Agee (James Rufus Agee) was born on November 27th, 1909. James passed away May 16th, 1955 at 45 years old. James Agee was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. Agee attended Harvard University where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree.
James Agee was primarily known as a screenwriter and film critic and for his work on
The African Queen where he wrote the screenplay.
He was the son of Laura Whitman Tyler and Hugh James Agee. Agee lost his father when he was six and the tragic accident left a permanent impression on the young Agee. He was then sent to boarding school where he was brought up by Father James Harold Flye, who became something of a father to him.
Right from the time he was in boarding school, he wanted to be a great writer and this was evident in his letters to Flye. In college, he published many of his stories and poems in
The Harvard Advocate, which he edited. When he parodied
Time magazine, he was offered a job at Fortune Magazine, whose editor loved his style.
It was while he was working for
Fortune that James Agee published
Permit Me Voyage, his first volume of poetry. It was also at this time that he began to feel that writing for the magazine was devoid of creativity, soulless, and impersonal, and began taking assignments working with poor farmers in the South.
After Agee left
Fortune, he worked for
Time Magazine and The Nation as a film critic. He also wrote screenplays for
The Night of the Hunter and
The African Queen.
While he attained much success in his writing endeavors, his personal life was not that successful and he never could sustain a marriage. Agee’s tendency to heavy smoking and drinking took a massive toll on him and he died of a heart attack in 1955.
James Agee’s most popular work is
A Death in the Family, which was published two years following his death. It is a biographical novel that comes with a vivid description of grief and loss. It tells the story of Jay Follet who is going back home when he dies in a tragic car accident. This event not only takes his life but also robs his young family of domestic contentment and happiness.
The Morning Watch is a work that James Agee published in 1950. It tells the story of a preteen named Richard who goes to church in the early hours of Good Friday. During his prayers, his deepest feelings and thoughts are interrupted by childish and weak flesh imaginings.
Related Authors
The most common authors followed by users who also follow James Agee are:
- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
- James Patterson, author of the Alex Cross Series.
- Margaret Atwood, author of The Handmaid's Tale Series.
- Donna Tartt, author of the novel: The Goldfinch.
- Harper Lee, author of the To Kill a Mockingbird Series.
James Agee: F.A.Q
When was James Agee Born?
James Agee was born on November 27th, 1909.
When did James Agee die?
James Agee died on May 16th, 1955 at 45 years old.
Where was James Agee Born?
James Agee was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, USA.
What was the first book James Agee wrote?
The first book written by James Agee was Let Us Now Praise Famous Men, published in 1941.
What was the most recent book James Agee wrote?
His most recently released work was Cotton Tenants on January 1st, 2013.
How many books has James Agee written?
James Agee has written 16 books excluding contributions to anthologies. 2 books in the Agee on Film Series, 2 Standalone Novels, 1 Short Story/Novella, 3 books in the Collections, 7 books in the Non-Fiction Books, 1 book in the American Poets Project Series.