Marilyn Durham
Encyclopedia
Marilyn Durham, née Marilyn Wall, born September 8, 1930, is an American
author of fiction. Her best-known novel is her first, The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing
, which was made into a film of the same name.
in 1930, to Russell and Stacy Wall. Her father was a blacksmith. Durham attended Evansville College (now called the University of Evansville
) for a year (1949–1950). She married Kilburn Durham, a field worker for Social Security, in November 1950, and settled into life as a wife and mother—she is a self-described "frumpy housewife." The Durhams would have two daughters. Durham has a lifelong interest in the history of Medieval England, archaeology, theology and astronomy, and has read extensively on all of these topics.
She made efforts to conceal her writing from her daughters and husband, because, in her words, "if it wasn't any good, I wanted to be the only one who knew. I didn't want egg on my face." Her husband discovered that she was actually writing a book when she had almost finished the sixth chapter, and she swore him to secrecy on the subject.
Durham sold The Man who Loved Cat Dancing to Harcourt Brace, which published it in 1972. The novel is set in the American West in the 1880s, but is not written in a genre style. It is the story of Jay, a man of the West, and his offbeat relationship with Catherine, a woman from the East who is fleeing an unhappy marriage. Jay kidnaps Catherine on his way to rob a train and together they travel through the Wyoming Territory. Catherine eventually discovers that Jay is haunted by the murder of his wife, a Shoshone Indian named Cat Dancing, and his actions after the murder. Pursued by Catherine's husband and a railroad agent, Catherine and Jay fall in love. The novel became a best seller, and was generally praised by reviewers for its deft character studies as well as its effortlessly entertaining style.
The following year, the film version of the novel was released. Directed by Richard C. Sarafian
, The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing
starred Burt Reynolds
and British actress Sarah Miles
. It would be Reynolds' first romantic movie. Many who regarded the novel highly were disappointed by its formulaic Hollywood treatment in the movie.
, which was published by Harcourt in 1973. The protagonist, Jake Hollander, is an aging gunfighter turned professional poker player who comes into a small New Mexico town to gamble but, through a series of unlikely circumstances, becomes its marshal and takes two Mexican orphans under his wing. Dutch Uncle, like The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, garnered critical praise for its character studies and clean writing style, but although a bestseller was not as great a success as Durham's preceding book; based on the success of The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, the movie rights to the book had been committed before Durham had completed Dutch Uncle, but the studio ultimately declined to make the film.
is a work of historical fiction and a return to her primary intellectual passion—the history of Medieval England. Flambard is a priest and functionary of both William the Conqueror and William Rufus, the first two Norman kings of England, and his story is told as a deathbed confession, full of the court intrigue of the times and colorful descriptions of early 12th century life in England. Like her previous two books, it was featured as a selection of the Book of the Month Club
, and was critically praised, but sold less well than her preceding works.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author of fiction. Her best-known novel is her first, The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing
The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing
The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing is a novel written by Marilyn Durham first published in 1972.-Plot:The novel is set in the American West in the 1880s, but is not written in a genre style. It is the story of Jay, a man of the West, and his offbeat relationship with Catherine, a woman from the East who...
, which was made into a film of the same name.
Early life
Durham was born in Evansville, IndianaEvansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
in 1930, to Russell and Stacy Wall. Her father was a blacksmith. Durham attended Evansville College (now called the University of Evansville
University of Evansville
The University of Evansville is a small, private university with approximately 3,050 students located in Evansville, Indiana. Founded in 1854 as Moores Hill College, it is located near the interchange of the Lloyd Expressway and U.S. Route 41. It is affiliated with the United Methodist Church...
) for a year (1949–1950). She married Kilburn Durham, a field worker for Social Security, in November 1950, and settled into life as a wife and mother—she is a self-described "frumpy housewife." The Durhams would have two daughters. Durham has a lifelong interest in the history of Medieval England, archaeology, theology and astronomy, and has read extensively on all of these topics.
The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing
One evening in 1969, while reading, Durham told her husband that she could write a novel better than any she had been reading lately. Eventually she set about doing this—with her two daughters in school, Durham began writing a novel, working on it while alone in the house during the day. (Throughout the childhood of her daughters Durham continued to schedule her writing around her work as a homemaker, writing mainly in the morning.)She made efforts to conceal her writing from her daughters and husband, because, in her words, "if it wasn't any good, I wanted to be the only one who knew. I didn't want egg on my face." Her husband discovered that she was actually writing a book when she had almost finished the sixth chapter, and she swore him to secrecy on the subject.
Durham sold The Man who Loved Cat Dancing to Harcourt Brace, which published it in 1972. The novel is set in the American West in the 1880s, but is not written in a genre style. It is the story of Jay, a man of the West, and his offbeat relationship with Catherine, a woman from the East who is fleeing an unhappy marriage. Jay kidnaps Catherine on his way to rob a train and together they travel through the Wyoming Territory. Catherine eventually discovers that Jay is haunted by the murder of his wife, a Shoshone Indian named Cat Dancing, and his actions after the murder. Pursued by Catherine's husband and a railroad agent, Catherine and Jay fall in love. The novel became a best seller, and was generally praised by reviewers for its deft character studies as well as its effortlessly entertaining style.
The following year, the film version of the novel was released. Directed by Richard C. Sarafian
Richard C. Sarafian
Richard C. Sarafian is an Armenian-American TV and film director. Richard Sarafian has complied a versatile career that has spanned over five decades as a director, actor and writer. He is most popular for his film Vanishing Point . He is the father of: Richard Sarafian Jr., Tedi Sarafian, Damon B...
, The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing
The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing
The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing is a novel written by Marilyn Durham first published in 1972.-Plot:The novel is set in the American West in the 1880s, but is not written in a genre style. It is the story of Jay, a man of the West, and his offbeat relationship with Catherine, a woman from the East who...
starred Burt Reynolds
Burt Reynolds
Burton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
and British actress Sarah Miles
Sarah Miles
-Early life and career:Sarah Miles was born in the small town of Ingatestone, Essex, in South East England.She first attended Roedean but at the age of 15 she enrolled at RADA, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
. It would be Reynolds' first romantic movie. Many who regarded the novel highly were disappointed by its formulaic Hollywood treatment in the movie.
Dutch Uncle
Durham followed up the success of The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing with another character-driven Western novel, Dutch UncleDutch Uncle
Dutch Uncle is a Western novel written by American author Marilyn Durham and published in 1973. The novel followed up Durham's great success with her debut novel, The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, another Western also published by Harcourt....
, which was published by Harcourt in 1973. The protagonist, Jake Hollander, is an aging gunfighter turned professional poker player who comes into a small New Mexico town to gamble but, through a series of unlikely circumstances, becomes its marshal and takes two Mexican orphans under his wing. Dutch Uncle, like The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, garnered critical praise for its character studies and clean writing style, but although a bestseller was not as great a success as Durham's preceding book; based on the success of The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing, the movie rights to the book had been committed before Durham had completed Dutch Uncle, but the studio ultimately declined to make the film.
Flambard's Confession
Durham's next book would not be published until 1982, again by Harcourt. Flambard's ConfessionFlambard's Confession
Flambard's Confession is an historical novel written by the American author Marilyn Durham. Published in 1982 by Harcourt, the novel marked a return to Durham's primary intellectual passion, the history of Medieval England, after her two previous novels which were set in the American...
is a work of historical fiction and a return to her primary intellectual passion—the history of Medieval England. Flambard is a priest and functionary of both William the Conqueror and William Rufus, the first two Norman kings of England, and his story is told as a deathbed confession, full of the court intrigue of the times and colorful descriptions of early 12th century life in England. Like her previous two books, it was featured as a selection of the Book of the Month Club
Book of the Month Club
The Book of the Month Club is a United States mail-order book sales club that offers a new book each month to customers.The Book of the Month Club is part of a larger company that runs many book clubs in the United States and Canada. It was formerly the flagship club of Book-of-the-Month Club, Inc...
, and was critically praised, but sold less well than her preceding works.
Later life
Durham has not published a book since Flambard's Confession, although she has continued to write. As of the late 1980s she was still living in Evansville and at that time said that her successful literary career has not changed her life. Her novels have seen multiple reprintings and have been translated into many languages. Durham's husband Kilburn died in 1994.Awards
Durham won the fiction award of the Society of Midland Authors in 1973 for The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing.Film adaptations
- The Man Who Loved Cat DancingThe Man Who Loved Cat DancingThe Man Who Loved Cat Dancing is a novel written by Marilyn Durham first published in 1972.-Plot:The novel is set in the American West in the 1880s, but is not written in a genre style. It is the story of Jay, a man of the West, and his offbeat relationship with Catherine, a woman from the East who...
, 1973. Starring Burt ReynoldsBurt ReynoldsBurton Leon "Burt" Reynolds, Jr. is an American actor. Some of his memorable roles include Bo 'Bandit' Darville in Smokey and the Bandit, Lewis Medlock in Deliverance, Bobby "Gator" McCluskey in White Lightning and sequel Gator, Paul Crewe and Coach Nate Scarborough in The Longest Yard and its...
, Sarah MilesSarah Miles-Early life and career:Sarah Miles was born in the small town of Ingatestone, Essex, in South East England.She first attended Roedean but at the age of 15 she enrolled at RADA, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art...
, and Lee J. CobbLee J. CobbLee J. Cobb was an American actor. He is best known for his performance in 12 Angry Men his Academy Award-nominated performance in On the Waterfront and one of his last films, The Exorcist...
. Directed by Richard C. SarafianRichard C. SarafianRichard C. Sarafian is an Armenian-American TV and film director. Richard Sarafian has complied a versatile career that has spanned over five decades as a director, actor and writer. He is most popular for his film Vanishing Point . He is the father of: Richard Sarafian Jr., Tedi Sarafian, Damon B...
.