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Jerry David Madden

1986 – David and son Blake 1986
David and wife Robbie, early 70’s
David at The Carousel Theatre in Knoxville, 1952
David with actor Sir Cedric Hatdwicke, 1958
1960 photo for David’s first book
Madden’s Mother, age 17
Writing group in Greensboro NC, including David Madden and journalist, essayist, and short story writer Katherine Anne Porter.
David at LSU
David at Thomas Wolfe house, Asheville NC, age 16

Jerry David Madden was born on July 23, 1933 in Knoxville Tennessee. The son of working class parents, David grew up roaming the streets of Knoxville and telling stories from his vivid imagination to anyone who would listen. From an early age he wanted to be a writer and knew in order to achieve his dream, he would need to follow his imagination and search for adventure. He found what he was looking for and after graduating from the University of Tennessee, earning his Masters in Creative Arts at San Francisco College and a Fellowship at Yale School of Drama, David taught creative writing at prominent Universities across the United States, authored over sixty-five books and continues to write and teach into his nineties. He is married to Robbie Young Madden (over sixty years ) and they are the proud parents of one son Blake and one grandson.

David helps lead multiple community organizations including The Guastavino Alliance, Thomas Wolfe Memorial, Basilica of St. Lawrence Preservation Project, and is President of Popular Culture Association. David’s extensive bibliography includes memoirs, fiction, poetry, Civil War history, literary criticism and textbooks. His work, The Suicides Wife, was adapted for CBS movie of the week and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

He also holds a Robert Penn Warren Emeritus professorship at Louisiana State University and led the efforts to establish the United States Civil War Museum and the residential hospice, Butterfly wing in Baton Rouge. In his spare time he is working on his 70th book along with other publications and articles. We welcome David and his imagination to NinetyOverNinety.