Elizabeth Spencer Books

Over the course of a career that spanned six decades, the southern novelist and short story writer Elizabeth Spencer established herself as one of the finest literary artists of a generation that included Flannery O'Connor, Carson McCullers, and Eudora Welty. This definitive volume brings together three remarkable novels: The Voice at the Back Door, her powerful masterpiece about racial politics in the world of Jim Crow Mississippi; the beloved classic The Light in the Piazza, a celebration of the possibilities of love set amidst the splendors of Florence; and its "dark companion," Knights and Dragons, about a woman working in Rome who is obsessed with the enigmatic specter of her ex-husband. A selection of nineteen stories reveals Spencer, as Richard Ford writes, as "a rare and true master" of the form

Focusing on the character Edward Glenn, this collection showcases four narratives by Elizabeth Spencer that highlight her exploration of southern life and identity. Through the play "For Lease or Sale" and three short stories, readers witness Spencer's evolving style and the moral complexities present in her work. Sally Greene's critical introduction provides valuable context, emphasizing Spencer's significant contributions to literature and her unique portrayal of both restless women and the enigmatic southern man.

Exploring the connections between clothing and social status, this work examines a range of sources from parish paupers to gentlewomen during the long eighteenth century. It highlights how attire influenced and reflected relationships within the social hierarchy, offering insights into the complexities of identity and class distinctions in this historical period.