Joe David Brown (May 12, 1915 – April 22, 1976) was an American novelist and journalist from Birmingham, Alabama. He drew memorably from his own life to compose his fiction: his grandfather's role as a minister, his own knowledge of confidence games from his work as a reporter, his World War II experiences, and his residence on journalistic assignment in India. He is particularly remembered for the title character of his novel Addie Pray, the young "Mistress of the Con Game" during the Great Depression in the Deep South; an adaptation of the story later became the film Paper Moon.
Brown was born in Birmingham, the son of William Samuel Brown, a newspaper publisher, and Lucille Lokey Brown. At age 20, he became a police reporter for the Birmingham Post and in the same year (1935) married Mildred Harbour, with whom he had two sons, David (named Joe David Brown after his father, and also a journalist) and Ted. At age 21, Brown became city editor of the Dothan Eagle. From 1935 to 1939, he worked for newspapers in Atlanta, Georgia; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and St. Louis, Missouri.
His first marriage ended in 1943 while he was still in the service. In 1945, while recovering from combat injuries, he met and married his second wife, Frances O'Reilly, with whom he had one daughter, Gilbreth. Brown returned to the Daily News, then from 1949 to 1957 was a foreign correspondent for Time and Life, serving in New Delhi, India; Paris, France; London and Moscow. In 1957, he became a freelance writer. In the sixties he returned to work for Time as a contributing editor; he also edited several books for Time-Life.
Filmed novels
Three of Brown's better-known novels became the basis of movies. Stars in My Crown (1947) was based on his childhood experiences with his minister grandfather and was made into a movie by the same name in 1949. Kings Go Forth was made into a movie in 1958. His final novel, Addie Pray (1971), the story of 11-year-old con artist Addie and her older partner Long Boy, was made into the movie Paper Moon (1973), starring Ryan O'Neal and his daughter Tatum; the film then served as the basis for a TV series of the same name, starring Jodie Foster. Brown's other, earlier novels are less known. The Freeholder (1949) is about an indentured servant's quest for freedom in the American South. Kings Go Forth (1956) draws upon Brown's military experiences (and also was made into a movie released in 1958), and Glimpse of a Stranger (1968) highlights the contrast between the cultures of India and the United States.
Brown died on April 26, 1976, at his home in Georgia.
Joe David Brown Papers at Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, & Rare Book Library, Emory University
March 13, 2023
david, brown, 1915, april, 1976, american, novelist, journalist, from, birmingham, alabama, drew, memorably, from, life, compose, fiction, grandfather, role, minister, knowledge, confidence, games, from, work, reporter, world, experiences, residence, journalis. Joe David Brown May 12 1915 April 22 1976 was an American novelist and journalist from Birmingham Alabama He drew memorably from his own life to compose his fiction his grandfather s role as a minister his own knowledge of confidence games from his work as a reporter his World War II experiences and his residence on journalistic assignment in India He is particularly remembered for the title character of his novel Addie Pray the young Mistress of the Con Game during the Great Depression in the Deep South an adaptation of the story later became the film Paper Moon Contents 1 Biography 2 Filmed novels 3 Works 4 External linksBiography EditBrown was born in Birmingham the son of William Samuel Brown a newspaper publisher and Lucille Lokey Brown At age 20 he became a police reporter for the Birmingham Post and in the same year 1935 married Mildred Harbour with whom he had two sons David named Joe David Brown after his father and also a journalist and Ted At age 21 Brown became city editor of the Dothan Eagle From 1935 to 1939 he worked for newspapers in Atlanta Georgia Chattanooga Tennessee and St Louis Missouri In 1939 he began working for the New York Daily News but his time there was interrupted in 1942 by World War II in which he served in the United States Army with the 460th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion 460th PFAB Brown was one of the first men to parachute into Southern France in August 1944 receiving a battlefield commission as second lieutenant and being awarded the Purple Heart and Croix de Guerre with Palm His first marriage ended in 1943 while he was still in the service In 1945 while recovering from combat injuries he met and married his second wife Frances O Reilly with whom he had one daughter Gilbreth Brown returned to the Daily News then from 1949 to 1957 was a foreign correspondent for Time and Life serving in New Delhi India Paris France London and Moscow In 1957 he became a freelance writer In the sixties he returned to work for Time as a contributing editor he also edited several books for Time Life Filmed novels EditThree of Brown s better known novels became the basis of movies Stars in My Crown 1947 was based on his childhood experiences with his minister grandfather and was made into a movie by the same name in 1949 Kings Go Forth was made into a movie in 1958 His final novel Addie Pray 1971 the story of 11 year old con artist Addie and her older partner Long Boy was made into the movie Paper Moon 1973 starring Ryan O Neal and his daughter Tatum the film then served as the basis for a TV series of the same name starring Jodie Foster Brown s other earlier novels are less known The Freeholder 1949 is about an indentured servant s quest for freedom in the American South Kings Go Forth 1956 draws upon Brown s military experiences and also was made into a movie released in 1958 and Glimpse of a Stranger 1968 highlights the contrast between the cultures of India and the United States Brown died on April 26 1976 at his home in Georgia Works EditNovels Stars In My Crown 1947 The Freeholder 1949 Kings Go Forth 1956 Glimpse of a Stranger 1968 Addie Pray aka Paper Moon 1971 Short stories Grandpa and the Miracle Grindstone 1956 Curtis Publishing Company External links EditJoe David Brown at IMDb Joe David Brown Papers at Stuart A Rose Manuscript Archives amp Rare Book Library Emory University Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Joe David Brown amp oldid 1144099033, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
