Major Works
James Wilcox at MUW, Oct. 15, 1999. Photo by N. Jacobs
- Hunk City (2007)
- Heavenly Days (2003)
- Plain and Normal (1998)
- Guest of a Sinner (1993)
- Polite Sex (1991)
- Sort of Rich (1989)
- Miss Undine’s Living Room (1987)
- North Gladiola (1985)
- Modern Baptists (1983)
James Wilcox: A Biography
by Aaron Freeman (SHS)
James Wilcox was born in Hammond, Louisiana in 1949. He went to school at Southeastern High School. After that he went to Yale University. He graduated from Yale in 1971. His parents’ names are James H. Wilcox and Mary Wilcox. His father taught at Southeastern University in Louisiana. Wilcox plays the French horn, and his mother played the oboe (interview). Wilcox has worked as an editor in several different publishing companies including Random House and Doubleday. While working at Random House, he met an editor named Richard Kot, who has published all of the books Wilcox has written. (Sissom). These books include the following:Modern Baptists, North Gladiola, Miss Undine’s Living Room, Sort of Rich, Polite Sex, Guest of a Sinner, Plain and Normal. Wilcox taught Creative Writing at Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi,as writer-in-residence. He was part of the English Department on the MSU campus. He now teaches at Louisiana State University.
Timeline
1949 – born in Hammond, Louisiana 
1971 – graduated from Yale University
1983 – published Modern Baptists
1985 – published North Gladiola
1986 – got a Guggenheim
1987 – published Miss Undine’s Living Room
1989 – published Sort of Rich
1991 – published Polite Sex
1993 – published Guest of a Sinner
1998 – published Plain and Normal
Interview with James Wilcox (1999)
by Aaron Freeman (SHS)
Aaron Freeman (SHS Researcher)
When were you born?
In 1949.
Where were you born?
Hammond, Louisiana.
Where did you go to high school?
Southeastern High School.
Where did you go to college?
Yale University, I graduated in 1971.
What are your parents’ names?
My father’s name is James H. Wilcox and my mother’s name is Mary Wilcox.
What made you decide to become a writer?
I liked reading, and it was just something I always wanted to do.
Has living in Mississippi influenced your writing?
No, it may in the future though.
Related Websites
Bibliography
- Wilcox, James. Telephone interview. 23 Apr. 1999.
- Sissoms, Kris. “Writer in residence to read from some of his works.” Crossroads Weekly. Starkville, MS: N/A
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