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Flannery O'Connor studied writing at the University of Iowa and published “The Geranium,” her first short story, in 1946. She wrote novels but was best known for her short story collections. She died of lupus in 1964 after fighting it for more than 10 years.

Early Life and Education

Born on March 25, 1925, in Savannah, Georgia, O'Connor is considered one of the greatest short story writers of the 20th century. She faced some hardships growing up, losing her father as a teenager; he died of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Early on, O'Connor demonstrated her literary talents for school publications. Studying at what is now the University of Iowa for a master's degree, O'Connor's first story, "The Geranium," was published in 1946. She had also begun what was to be first novel, Wise Blood, published in 1952.

Commercial Success

After graduating in 1947, O'Connor pursued her writing, spending time at several months at Yaddo, a Saratoga Springs, New York artists' retreat. Her work was informed by her experiences growing up as a Catholic in the South. Religion was a recurring theme in her work, and the main characters of her first and second novels were preachers of sorts.