The Angelic Mother and the Predatory Seductress: Poor White Women in Southern Literature of the Great Depression

Acknowledgments

ix Acknowledgments this work has been influenced by a great number of people who have supported me and my research. I would like to offer a sincere thank you to my doctoral committee at the University of Mississippi—Jay Watson , Kathryn McKee, Benjamin Fisher, and Nancy Bercaw—who all encouraged me to pursue publishing my dissertation. Joseph Urgo, Natalie Schroeder, and Jamie Harker were also instrumental in helping me complete this book. I would also like to thank my classmates and friends, Taylor Hagood, Christopher Bundrick, and Kacy Tillman, for challenging me as I wrote and pursued publication. Taylor Hagood especially played an essential part. Several of my students have also encouraged me during this process: Kristen Stephens, Madison McLeod, and Devisha Hairston. I appreciate Kristen’s help as I was finalizing the book, and I am thankful for Madison’s and Devisha’s encouraging messages and prayers. I am also grateful to Louisiana State University Press. I have been honored to work with Fred Hobson, John Easterly, and Margaret Lovecraft . Not only have they been supportive of my work, but they have also been patient with me during this process. I am also thankful for the helpful comments provided to me by the anonymous reader. All of the comments I received from each reader and editor helped me to improve this book and to improve as a writer. I have also had the privilege of being supported by several institutions and departments.The University of Mississippi English Department and library staff were instrumental in providing the necessary monetary and scholastic resources I needed to complete my research. I would also like to thank the English Department and library staff at Mississippi College and the library staff at Rhodes College for allowing me to use their resources. I am also especially thankful to the Itawamba Community Col- x acknowledgments lege Communications Division, administration, and library staff for their outstanding encouragement and support. Along with the academic support I have received, I am also blessed to have had emotional support from family and friends. My mom, dad, and sister have always encouraged me to reach for my dreams, and for that I can never thank them enough. I am also grateful for Cindy McRae and her suggestion that I write down all my dreams so that I would not allow my life to go by without fulfilling them. Publishing this book was at the top of that list. Most of all, I would like to thank my husband, Cory. He somehow knew when to encourage me, when to cry with me, when to rejoice with me, and when to force me to push ahead. All of these people are truly my blessings from God. Thank you for helping me complete this journey and for celebrating with me in the completion of this book. the angelic mother and the predatory seductress This page intentionally left blank ...