Borden Deal
Borden Deal was an American writer known for his evocative reflections on the land and life in the Deep South. Born Loyse Youth Deal, he experienced significant personal loss early on with the death of his father, which prompted him to embark on a journey of self-discovery and exploration of various professions, including service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. His literary career began to flourish while studying at the University of Alabama, where his short story "Exodus" gained recognition by being featured in the esteemed anthology "Best American Short Stories." Deal published more than twenty books throughout his career, with his most prominent work, "Antaeus," appearing in high school curricula. In addition to writing fiction, he produced critical essays and poetry, earning accolades such as a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Literary Award of the Alabama Library Association. His diverse experiences and deep connection to Southern culture enriched his storytelling and left a lasting impact in the literary community until his passing in 1985.
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Borden Deal
Fiction Writer
- Born: October 12, 1922
- Birthplace: Ponotoc, Mississippi
- Died: January 22, 1985
- Place of death: Sarasota, Florida
Biography
Born Loyse Youth Deal on a farm of the Deep South to parents Borden and Jimmie Deal, Borden Deal used his writing to reflect on the land. He wrote many stories, novels, poems, and critical essays. When his father died in 1938, Deal began an independent life, traveling through the South, working in Washington, D.C., and serving with the U.S. Navy during World War II. While an undergraduate at the University of Alabama, Deal found great success when he published his first short-story, “Exodus.” The story was chosen for inclusion in the annual anthology Best American Short Stories. After his 1949 graduation from the University of Alabama, he studied at Mexico City College. While beginning his writing career, he proceeded to work in a wide variety of venues, including Associated Films, an auto finance company in Birmingham, a New Orleans phone-soliciting company, and two Mobile radio stations. He married Babs Hodges in 1952, and in 1955 he began writing full time. His most widely read story, “Antaeus,” was published in 1961 in Southwest Review and has appeared in high school textbooks. Deal was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Literary Award of the Alabama Library Association. In 1981, for the University of Alabama’s sesquicentennial, Dean was chosen as Sesquicentennial Scholar. Dean authored more than twenty books between 1950 and 1985, which was the year of his death.