Pat Conroy Interview with Don Swaim

“Is The Prince of Tides an appropriate book for a Christian to read?” asks Don Swaim at the start of the interview.

According to author Pat Conroy’s family, the answer is no.

Conroy grew up in South Carolina with a militant father; a “Nazi Dr. Spock” who travels the country telling parent groups the best way to raise children is through tough love. On the other hand, it was his mother who instilled in him a love for writing. Writing was never something his father intended for his son. In fact, his father ordered the young Conroy to attend a military college, The Citadel. Shortly after graduating, the college would serve as the setting for his book, Lords of Discipline.

Being new to the world of authors, Conroy’s first book, The Boo, was self published. It wasn’t until he was about to publish his second book, The Water is Wide – about the neglected children at an all black grade school, did he learn the ins and outs of the publishing trade.

Although he and his family now divide their time between life in Rome and life in South Carolina, he says he will always be a Southern writer, no matter where he resides.

“The South follows you like a camel hump,” he said.

To hear more, click on the link below.

Listen to the Pat Conroy interview with Don Swaim, 1986
(25 min. 54 sec.)

Audio Interview with Pat Conroy