Andrew Lytle's Letters to Alan Frederiksen

Andrew Nelson Lytle was a novelist, professor, and editor of The Sewanee Review (1961-1973). He was born in Murfreesboro, Tennessee in 1902, and studied acting at Yale University. In his early years, Lytle became associated with the Southern Agrarians poet movement and the publishing of his first biography of Civil War Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest. He later went on to write many other novels and essays. Lytle also taught literature and creative writing at the University of Florida (UF) and was a driving cofounder for the University's Master of Fine Arts Program, which was effectively established upon his arrival in 1948. Among Lytle's students at UF were Madison Jones, Merrill Joan Gerber, Mary Ann Taylor-Hall, Joanne Childers, Smith Kirkpatrick, Harry Crews, and Lawrence Hetrick. Though Lytle left UF in 1961, the program continued to prosper, featuring lectureships by Stephen Spender, John Ciardi, Maxine Kumin, James Dickey, Peter Taylor, and others; and hosting the annual Florida Writers Conference, which attracted participants nationwide and presented everyone from John Crowe Ransom to Ken Kesey. Lytle left UF to become the editor of The Sewanee Review, based out of Sewanee, Tennessee, and also taught at the University of the South. Under Lytle's tenure, The Sewanee Review gained prestige and popularity for its literature and criticisms. After retiring from formal teaching at the University of the South in 1973, Lytle spent his time in a small cabin in Monteagle, Tennessee, until his final days in 1995.

Not much is known of his correspondent, Alan Frederiksen, author of Red Roe Run, except from his communication with Lytle, and the appearances of his stories in The Sewanee Review. He was also a writer from New Orleans, and was featured several times in the literary magazine for his published works. Frederiksen authored such stories as "The Match" and "Red Roe Run." From Lytle's letters to Frederiksen, it was apparent that Lytle often offered writing guidance and help with publishing for Frederiksen's works, especially before his works were published by The Sewanee Review beginning in 1970. The letters also suggest that Frederiksen relied heavily on his writing skills, and frequently relied on the finances awarded to him by his published stories through The Sewanee Review for support, especially after the birth of his daughter.

References include: "Andrew Nelson Lytle" (Wikipedia), "The University of Florida Writing Program" (UF), and "Front Matter" from The Sewanee Review (via JSTOR).