Madison Smartt Bell


Madison Smartt Bell is the author of nine novels, including The Washington Square Ensemble (1983), Waiting for the End of the World (1985), Straight Cut (1986), The Year of Silence (1987), Doctor Sleep (1991), Save Me, Joe Louis (1993) and Soldier's Joy, which received the Lillian Smith Award in 1989. Bell has also published two collections of short stories: Zero db (1987) and Barking Man (1990). His eighth novel, All Soul's Rising, was a finalist for the 1995 National Book Award and the 1996 PEN/Faulkner Award and winner of the 1996 Anisfield-Wolf award for the best book of the year dealing with matters of race. His ninth novel, Ten Indians, was published by Pantheon in November 1997.

Born and raised in Tennessee, he has lived in New York and in London and now lives in Baltimore, Maryland. A graduate of Princeton University (A.B 1979) and Hollins College (M.A. 1981), he has taught in various creative writing programs, including the Iowa Writers' Workshop and the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars. Since 1984 he has taught the Goucher College Creative Program, where he is currently Writer In Residence, along with his wife, the poet Elizabeth Spires.

Professor Bell has provided personal commentary on a number of the paintings in our "Under $250" Wing, drawn from his book in progress 'Soul In A Bottle.'. Select his image above to return to our "Under $250" selections. 

   
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