The Death of Albert Murray

Yesterday, novelist and critic Albert Murray died at the age of 97. I had written about his novel Train Whistle Guitar not long ago. A native of the tiny community of Nokomis, Alabama, Murray far transcended his Deep Southern roots by creating literature and writing criticism of both literature and music that brought home the point that art is best and greatest when the personal becomes the universal. Though I never knew Albert Murray, his critical ideas have had a heavy influence on me since I read them years ago.… Read more The Death of Albert Murray →