Understanding Pat Conroy

"In light of the UCAL goal of guiding and instructing nonacademic readers, Seltzer succeeds admirably. Her opening chapter not only outlines the basic facts of Conroy's life, but also questions the rocky critical reception his works have received."—The Georgia Review

"Catherine Seltzer's elegantly written, sophisticated study carves a vital space for Pat Conroy in the literary canon. As she demonstrates, Conroy's work engages powerfully with the ongoing struggles of individuals trying to come to terms with the ways the South is still viewed as a region defined by strong racial divisions and entrenched patriarchal hierarchies. Ultimately, she makes clear that Conroy is a writer of deep intelligence, passion, and generosity of spirit."—Thomas Fahy, author of Understanding Truman Capote and Staging Modern American Life

"An extremely insightful and well-written study of Conroy and of the autobiographical impulse that has driven the author, demonstrated in his fiction as well as nonfiction. Seltzer makes a case for why this 'popular' writer should be taken seriously by critics and scholars as well."—Fred Hobson, Lineberger Distinguished Professor in the Humanities Emeritus, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

"Pat Conroy is the only writer I know who is as passionate about rage as he is about tenderness, and that is what Catherine Seltzer's excellent book of profoundly insightful essays tells us. The bridge of language between those two emotional poles is the watermark of Pat's extraordinary literature."—Terry Kay, author of To Dance with the White Dog and The Book of Marie

"Catherine Seltzer has managed to thread the needle with a book that will both inform Conroy scholars and delight fans. Free of academic jargon and posturing, Understanding Pat Conroy is full of intelligence and insights that will deepen any reader's comprehension and appreciation of Conroy's works."—Katherine Clark, author of the forthcoming Great Love: Confessions of Pat Conroy