Bobbie Ann Mason, a short story and “American novelist writer” was born on May 1, 1940 in Mayfield, Kentucky (“Mason” World Authors, 1). Her parents, Wilburn and Christie Arnett raised Mason on dairy farm (“Mason” World Authors, 1). Bobbie Ann Mason attended the University of Kentucky pursued English in college, along with journalism, but “did not begin writing fiction until she completed her Ph. D.” (“Mason, World Authors, 2). In regards to Mason’s writings, she is considered a writer of the “new South” (“Mason” World Authors, 2). Her characters are constructed in an applauded and indulging way. They are overall described as “torn between the security of their familiar lives and the desire for change and independence,” her stories involving “inconclusive endings,” and her themes are known to be based on “loss and deprivation…the disquieted lives of men and women not blessed with much money or education or luck, but cursed with enough sensitivity and imagination to suffer regrets” (“Mason” Contemporary Authors, 1). Overall, Mason is a writer of events that are common in everyday life. She focuses on writing works of literature that will be appealing to all ages lifestyles; everyone at some point in their lives goes through loss, depression, and/or suffering. Mason’s writings involve all of these thematic claims and she has been nominated and awarded numerous times for various pieces of work.
Besides the short story “Shiloh,” which is the main focus of discussion on this weblog, Mason has written many stories, including: her first novel, “In Country,” “Spice + Lila,” and “Midnight Magic.” Mason has also received numerous amounts of awards for her exceptional work: “Ernest Hemingway Foundation Award (1983), Pulitzer Prize for autobiography nomination (2000) and the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters Award (1984)” (“Contemporary Authors, 1). In conclusion, Mason is a very accomplished and successful writer. Her works are praised by many critics and enjoyed by her readers.