Josephine Humphries
1945-

South Carolina Connection

Josephine Humphreys was born in Charleston, South Carolina. Many of her novels are set in South Carolina.

Selected Bibliography

  • Dreams of Sleep, 1984
  • Rich in Love, Contributor 1987
  • The Fireman's Fair, 1991
  • A World Unsuspected: Portraits of Southern Childhood, Contributor, 1987
  • The Prevailing South: Life and Politics in a Changing Culture, Contributor, 1988
  • Gal, Contributor, 1994
  • Nowhere Else on Earth, 2000

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Biography

Josephine Humphreys was born on February 2, 1945, in Charleston, South Carolina. She received her A.B. from Duke University in 1967 and a M.A. from Yale University in 1968. Humphreys did her doctoral study at the University of Texas at Austin from 1968 until 1971. From 1971 until 1978, Humphreys was an assistant professor of English at Baptist College at Charleston. Humphreys then began her writing career in 1978.

The themes of Humphreys novels consist of place, family, and history. Humphreys uses South Carolina as the setting in many of her novels. Dreams of Sleep is set in Charleston. She is best known for her well written narrative and lyrical prose. Humphreys has received many awards for her writing.

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Awards

  • Danforth Foundation Fellowship, 1968
  • Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, 1968
  • Ernest Hemingway prize from P.E.N. American Center, Dreams of Sleep , 1985
  • Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship, 1985
  • Lyndhurst Fellowship, 1986-1988
  • American Academy Literature prize in fiction