John William Corrington
John William Corrington was an American author and academic known for his contributions to literature and television. Born in 1932 in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, he pursued a rigorous education, earning degrees in English and a law degree by the mid-1970s. Corrington began his academic career at Louisiana State University and later taught at Loyola University in New Orleans. Notably, he was also a screenwriter, collaborating with his wife on popular television series and films, including "Search for Tomorrow" and "Battle for the Planet of the Apes."
Corrington's literary work encompasses poetry, novels, and short fiction, with a particular emphasis on Southern themes and history. His first published book, a poetry collection titled "Where We Are," won the Charioteer Poetry Prize, and he gained recognition for his short stories, which appeared in prestigious journals and anthologies. His storytelling often delved into moral dilemmas and the nature of evil, drawing comparisons to renowned Southern writers like William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor. His craftsmanship and intricate plots have earned him lasting praise in the literary community. Corrington's legacy continues to resonate through his body of work, which remains significant in the exploration of Southern identity and ethics.
On this Page
Subject Terms
John William Corrington
Writer
- Born: October 28, 1932
- Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee
- Died: November 24, 1988
- Place of death: Malibu, California
Biography
John William Corrington was born in 1932 in Memphis, Tennessee, and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. He earned a B.A. in English at Centenary College in 1956, an M.A. at Rice University in 1960, and his Ph.D. at the University of Sussex in 1964. He married Joyce Elaine Hooper in 1960, and they had four children.
Corrington began his academic career at Louisiana State University, where he taught English from 1960 to 1966, and he then taught at Loyola University, a Jesuit school in New Orleans, from 1966 to 1973. He earned his law degree from Tulane University in 1975 and practiced law in New Orleans until his death in 1988.
With his wife, he wrote scripts for the television series Search for Tomorrow, Another World, and General Hospital in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The couple also wrote screenplays for Boxcar Bertha, Battle for the Planet of the Apes, and other films. He published both poetry and novels during his career, but he is best known for his short fiction.
Corrington’s first published book was a collection of poetry, Where We Are, which won the Charioteer Poetry Prize and was followed by three additional poetry collections. He wrote several novels on his own and in collaboration with his wife and published All My Trials, a volume containing two novellas. His short stories were published in several collections, including The Collected Stories of John William Corrington, released after his death. His stories appeared in many of the leading American journals, including Kenyon Review and Sewanee Review, and his story “To Carthage Then I Came” won a National Endowment for the Arts Award in 1968. Some of his short stories are collected in the Best American Stories anthologies for 1973, 1976, and 1977 and in Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards, published in 1976.
Corrington has been compared with William Faulkner for his consistent use of Southern history ; for example, his first novel, And Wait for the Night, was set during the Civil War. Corrington also has been likened to Flannery O’Connor and Walker Percy, two later Southern writers, for his dark humor and metaphysical or theological themes. The characters in Corrington’s fiction are often wrestling with moral dilemmas and the nature of evil. Above all, he has been praised for the consistent craftsmanship of his fiction and his mastery of the complexities of plot and characterization.