James Agee

Bio

(1909-1955) Journalist, novelist, screenwriter, writer. In 1932, upon graduation from Harvard (where he studied writing), he came to New York City and was hired by “Fortune Magazine.” In 1936, “Fortune” asked Agee and photographer Walker Evans to go to Alabama and do a photo-story on tenant farming. When Agee finally finished the project more than three years later, he had channeled enough of his sensibility into the subject to produce one large book, “Let Us Now Praise Famous Men” (1941), a book about three tenant farmers. While he was at work on the book, Agee began reviewing books for “Time,” and eventually reviewed movies. In 1941 he also began writing a weekly column on film for the “Nation,” and he wrote extensively on movies until 1948. He co-authored “The African Queen” (1951) with John Huston. He published a novel “The Morning Watch” (1951). In the 50’s Agee’s heart problems began to grow more frightening and recurrent. Agee died of a heart attack in a taxicab in New York City in 1955. Agee lived in different areas, 121 Leroy Street, 38 Perry Street, 172 Bleecker Street, and 16 King Street, all in Greenwich Village, New York; but mostly Bleecker Street. He owned a farm in Hillsdale for the last 9 years of his life. He died in New York City but was buried a few miles from his farm. Works: “A Death in the Family” (1957; Pulitzer Prize), “Agee on Film” (1958-60).