Berry Morgan
Berry Morgan was a notable fiction writer in the twentieth century, born in Mississippi to plantation owners. She had a varied educational background, attending high schools in both Mississippi and Colorado, and later studying at several New Orleans institutions, including Newcomb College and Tulane University. Morgan's literary career began in earnest after she published her debut novel, "Pursuit," in 1966, which won the Houghton Mifflin Literary Award for new authors. This success led to her writing for "The New Yorker," where she contributed until 1988. In 1974, she released a sequel titled "The Mystic Adventures of Roxie Stoner," which also received critical acclaim. Despite her achievements, a planned third novel, "The Mississippian," was never completed. Throughout her life, Morgan held diverse roles, including secretary, real estate specialist, and creative writing instructor at various universities. She passed away in West Virginia in 2002 at the age of eighty-three, leaving behind a legacy of literary contribution and a multifaceted professional life.
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Berry Morgan
Writer
- Born: May 20, 1919
- Birthplace: Port Gibson, Mississippi
- Died: June 19, 2002
- Place of death: Summit Point, West Virginia
Biography
Berry Morgan, a twentieth century fiction writer, was born in Mississippi. Her parents were Betty Berry Taylor Brumfield and John Marshall Brumfield, who were plantation owners. She attended high school in Port Gibson, Mississippi, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. She studied for her undergraduate degree at several institutions, including Newcomb College, Tulane University, and Loyola University, all located in New Orleans, Louisiana. In 1940, she married Aylmer Lee Morgan III. Together they had four children.
In 1966, at the age of forty-four, Berry Morgan published her first novel, titled Pursuit. This novel earned the Houghton Mifflin Literary Award, which was given to promising new authors. After the publication of her first novel, Morgan began writing fiction for The New Yorker magazine. She continued to be a regular contributor to The New Yorker until 1988.
In 1974, Morgan published a sequel to Pursuit titled The Mystic Adventures of Roxie Stoner. This novel, which also earned a Houghton Mifflin Literary Award, was to be followed by a third novel The Mississippian. However, The Mississippian was never completed.
In addition to writing, Morgan held numerous occupations such as secretary, real-estate specialist, freelance editor, plantation manager, and cattle farmer. She also enjoyed a successful career as a creative writing instructor at Northeast Louisiana University, as well as at several Washington D.C. learning institutes including the Catholic University of America, George Washington University, and the American University. In 2002, Morgan died in West Virginia at the age of eighty- three.