I have had a long association with Frank Yerby’s works both as a student as well during my teaching career. As an adjunct faculty member, St. Mary’s College, I discovered that Yerby’s works mirrored my department’s entire academic curriculum. I was convinced that Yerby’s works deserved a more critical evaluation than he had yet received.
In a 1959 Harpers Magazine article, “How and Why I Write the Costume Novel”, Yerby makes a series of enigmatic statements regarding the historical references in his novels. In order to avoid calling historical fiction, Yerby calls them ‘costume novels fr more...
