The World of Tennessee Williams

The World of Tennessee Williams offers a survey of the life and career of one of America's greatest dramatists from his birth in 1911 to his death in 1983. Richard Leavitt was in a unique position to create such a volume, since he was a friend of Tennessee's and followed his career close up. Kenneth Holditch, who has undertaken the task of completing the text, was a friend of Leavitt's and knew Tennessee Williams. It has been his desire to carry to fruition the original plan Dick Leavitt conceived in the 1970s and augmented in 1983 when Williams died.

Richard Freeman Leavitt: It was in Miami in 1956 that Richard met Tennessee Williams whom he considered America's greatest playwright as well as his friend. Richard authored Yesterday's New Hampshire (1974), and The World of Tennessee Williams (1978). In 1995 he compiled the photographs and genealogical chart for Tom: The Unknown Tennessee Williams by Lyle Leverich, and in 2002 he coauthored Tennessee Williams and the South with Kenneth Holditch.Kenneth Holditch, a resident of New Orleans, boasts many accolades in the literary circle. Much of his work revolves around Tennessee Williams scholarship, including being editor of the Tennessee Williams Journal and co-editor, along with Mel Gussow, of the Library of America edition of Williams' writings. He is also a professor emeritus at the University of New Orleans. Holditch has previously collaborated with Richard Freeman Leavitt on another Tennessee Williams book, Tennessee Williams and the South.