U Ideas of General Interest -- October 2000University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Contact: Andrea Lynn, Humanities/Social Sciences Editor (217) 333-2177; [email protected]
LITERARY HISTORYWide-ranging symposium to focus on life and work of James Jones
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A literary giant of 20th century American literature and native son of Illinois will be celebrated Oct. 28 at the University of Illinois Library.
Historians and literary scholars will gather to discuss the life and work of James Jones (1921-1977), the author of the international best seller "From Here to Eternity," during the 10th annual James Jones Literary Society Symposium. All of the events, including a concert of music from World War II by Dixieland jazz band Medicare 7, 8 or 9, are free and open to the public.
Ray Elliott, president of the Jones Society, said this is the first time the meeting has been held at the UI, 100 miles north of Jones' birthplace in Robinson. "With the current interest in World War II and the recognition of Jones as a novelist with special insights into the effects of combat on soldiers, I think it's significant to have the symposium at Illinois for the continued exposure to his perspective." The symposium will focus on Jones' insights on the combat experience and its effects on the soldier.
A member of the 27th U.S. Infantry, James Jones witnessed the attack on Pearl Harbor, was wounded at Guadalcanal and returned to Robinson, where he began writing about his war-time experiences. While he was writing "From Here to Eternity," he helped create the Handy Writers' Colony in Marshall, Ill., which operated from 1949 to 1964.
Jones wrote nine novels, including "The Thin Red Line," an acclaimed short-story collection, a non-fiction account of World War II, a book of essays, and short fiction and articles.
Historian Gerald H. Linderman, an emeritus faculty member at the University of Michigan, will be keynote speaker and discuss "James Jones and Two Wars: World War II and Vietnam." In his book, "The World Within War: America's Experience in World War II," Linderman cited Jones 35 times -- more than any other source -- in sections describing U.S. soldiers in combat. Other symposium highlights:
o Overview of Jones' war writings by Jones scholars Judith Everson, UI-Springfield; George Hendrick, UI; and J. Michael Lennon, Wilkes University. Hendrick was one of the founders of the Jones Society and its first president. He published a volume of Jones' letters in 1989.
o Panel discussion on the Handy Colony with Jones' friends and colony members.
o Discussion of James Jones and the Illinois connection.
o Continuous screening of Lennon's documentary, "James Jones: From Reveille to Taps."
A James Jones exhibit will be on display in the UI Rare Book and Special Collections Library. Among items to be shown is Jones' original unexpurgated manuscript of "From Here to Eternity." A writers' workshop will take place Oct. 27, led by Kaylie Jones, a novelist and Jones' daughter. The James Jones Literary Society Web site is at http://rking.vinu.edu/j.htm. Elliott can be reached at (217) 337-6510.
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