Date of Birth: June 7, 1935
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Date of Death: March 28, 2012
Biography
Harry Crews was an American novelist, short story writer, and essayist known for his gritty and often grotesque portrayals of life in the rural South. Born in Bacon County, Georgia, Crews grew up in an environment marked by poverty and hardship, experiences that heavily influenced his literary work. After serving in the U.S. Marine Corps, Crews attended the University of Florida, where he studied under the acclaimed writer Andrew Lytle. Crews published his first novel, “The Gospel Singer,” in 1968, and went on to write several more novels, including “Feast of Snakes” and “Body.” His work often explores themes of violence, redemption, and the human condition, earning him a dedicated following and critical acclaim. Crews also taught creative writing at the University of Florida for many years, influencing a new generation of writers.
5 Interesting Facts about Harry Crews
1. Crews grew up in a sharecropping family and experienced significant poverty during his childhood.
2. He survived polio as a child, which left him temporarily paralyzed.
3. Crews was a prolific writer, producing novels, essays, and short stories, as well as contributing to publications like “Esquire.”
4. He was known for his hard-living lifestyle, including bouts of alcoholism.
5. Crews had a brief stint as a boxer, which influenced some of his later works.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Harry Crews
1. “Survival is triumph enough.”
2. “I believe some people are just born human, the rest of us, we take a lifetime to get there.”
3. “Nothing is allowed to die in a society of storytelling people. It is all—history, legend, myth, and lies—alive in the individual’s imagination.”
4. “You can’t do without a sense of humor. Because it’s the only way you can stand all the contradictions.”
5. “The only way to deal with the real world is to get out of it.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Harry Crews’ net worth was estimated to be around $1 million.
Children
Harry Crews had two sons, Patrick Scott Crews, who tragically died in a drowning accident at age four, and Byron Crews, who survived him.
Relevant Links
1. [Harry Crews on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Crews
2. [Harry Crews Biography on Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/64308.Harry_Crews
