Author PAT CONROY On Writing, Home, and Family

Pat Conroy, author of The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline, The Prince of Tides, Beach Music, South of Broad, My Losing Season and other books talks with Rich Fahle, current host and exec producer of PBS Book View Now from Conroy's home on Fripp Island, SC. The interview was recorded for Borders after the publication of South of Broad in summer 2009. Conroy died on March 4, 2016.

[@wildoceanappaloosawomangay2535]

Beautiful brave spirit. We need you and so many of the true artists back, 😞

[@tbc9096]

Rest in peace, Pat Conroy. What a fantastic author. No one could write quite like he could.

[@mrScififan2]

Yup!

[@denisehansen9055]

I was just in Conroy Country - Beaufort SC. Years ago I binged on a number of his novels. It was great to see the town where he lived. Sad that his literary voice is silenced now. He was a complex guy, immensely human. I spent some time in the town's lovely bookstore which displayed many signed copies of his work.

[@lindaham8610]

What a gift he was to our world!!

[@davidrose1838]

A truly good, honest man as well as a major literary talent. RIP, Pat.

[@PhickleChickle]

Perfect video to pop up on my feed tonight while I am in Beaufort, SC… moving here next month. And I hope to be brave enough to WRITE MY STORIES.

[@williamdavidson3365]

Greatest author of the time. His articulate prose was engulfing in description, taking you to a place of beauty

[@cashmeremonroe7715]

The Murdaugh trial brought me here. The first mention of Colleton made me think of Prince of Tides. In the book/movie he wrote of the rich family his mother yearned to be a part of. Instantly, I saw the connection with the Murdaughs. Prince of Tides, one of my favs.

[@bilyg5689]

Good interview, thanks for sharing. The interviewer is obviously a knowledgeable fan of his work, asked smart questions and gave space for interesting and colorful responses. I loved Pat Conroy's writing and have read all of his books multiple times. The only negative thing I can say about Conroy is that every time he put a book out, I'd read it, and then I would have to wait six or eight years for the next one. RIP PAT.

[@bchbuni]

He was amazing!!!!

[@tierno158]

What a great subject in Pat Conroy and a well-versed interviewer.

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

The BEACH MUSIC story about the real-life Conroy family (12:34) reminds me of the way the Wolfe clan responded initially to LOOK HOMEWARD ANGEL. At first they were furious at being put in the book. Then, in OF TIME AND THE RIVER..the Wolfes were angry they were NOT included!

[@cynthiahawkins2389]

Oh, Kaleb, truly...we are here. Those of us who are..REALLY are... Not only did I love Conroy, but he 'introduced' me to Thomas Wolfe. What a gift.

[@averagejoe1967]

My brother rented a house on Fripp Island for a week back in 2014 in March when my nephew graduated Paris Island as a freshly minted Marine. I was riding the golf cart with his younger brother who was driving it like he was insane on the golf course. I seem to remember a gentleman who was attempting a put give us the dirtiest look for our deplorable behavior. Much to my horror I find myself thinking back and hoping it wasn't Mr Conroy.

[@t0dd000]

Ha! The stories of family members not bothering to read his work ... so funny. My own family sometimes can't be bothered. Crazy, but every author can relate.

[@johnduffy532]

Conroy says he wasn’t a good athlete. Nothing could be further from the truth. He was an exceptional athlete who extracted every last ounce of his innate talent.

[@stevemccarty6384]

Pat Conroy hated me. I tried to contact him and talked several times with his girl friday. She told me that Pat wouldn't talk to me because he said I had had an affair with his mother. Not true, but I knew his family well and I spent many evenings talking with his mother, Peggy Conroy. I was a young Marine officer and a student in flight school. Colonel Donald Conroy was my commanding officer. He the CO of the Marine Training Detachment, or M.A.D.. My wife and I had been in a terrible auto accident, hit head on by a drunk. My wife, Carroll was in terrible condition with serious brain damage. She gave birth to a boy while in a comma. Peggy sat with Carroll and held her hand while she screamed. She visited me in the hospital, I had a bad concussion too, but nothing like Carroll's. Peggy invited me to their home when I could walk. About a month later and when I could take a few steps, I struggled over to the Conroy's quarters. Peggy answered the door, smiled and invited me in. She wanted to tell me about Pat Conroy's work and she read his letters that he had written to her to me. We talked about all kinds of literary things and Peggy and I became good friends, but NEVER anything intimate. I ate dinner there often and watched Pat's brothers and sisters in their comings and goings. I also visited sometimes with the colonel. All marines in the base were scared to death of the guy. He was quite something. After a month or two I stopped going over to the Conroy's house. I introduced my parents to the Conroys and they became good friends visiting the Colonel and Peggy when he became the IG in Hawaii. I wanted to tell Pat how important his parents were to me and my seriously injured wife. He wouldn't talk to me.

[@jenniferjack4346]

Shorter!?!?! Nevvah! Sahh!!!

[@smellpig1]

The book sucked b/c it was trying to legitimize the homosexual lifestyle.

[@diane8937]

Homosexuality is a fact of life, period.