Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, (1995) dj. Hardcover first edition - A book which examines both Porter's life and at her work and which emphasizes the historical context of her writing. "A consummate stylist noted for the outstanding craftsmanship with which she shaped short stories, Porter worked so slowly that it took her 25 years to complete a major novel (Ship of Fools). Stout, drawing on the Texas-raised Porter's letters, describes the author as a difficult and conflicted woman. She was a Communist during the 1920s but later embraced conservative attitudes. Without excusing Porter's virulent racism, Stout attributes most of it to her upbringing, noting also that Porter intensely disliked homosexuals and feminists and was frequently unkind to her four husbands and other lovers. Stout treats Porter not as an intellectual but as a writer devoted to her work, who drew on her past to create artful fiction." (Publisher's Weekly) A title in Minds of the New South series. Illustrated with photographs. Includes extensive notes, bibliography, index. xviii, 517 pp. ISBN: 0-813915686.