J. Frank Dobie

One of my favorite authors and personalities is J. Frank Dobie. So I will be posting about him from time to time. Born in 1888 in South Texas he did not always conform to modern politically correct ideas. But for his time he was quite progressive, so much so that he often got into disputes with the conservative powers that ran Texas and UT.

For a number of years he taught a course at the University of Texas called Life and Literature of the Southwest. When other English professors sniffed that there was no literature in the Southwest, he replied that there sure as heck was life.

Dobie is also known for his bibliography of southwestern books Guide to Life and Literature of the Southwest. One thing most of the books Dobie liked had in common was that they were bursting with life. If Dobie recommended a book you can be sure it will be a good read, and not dry and academic.