Dr. Bruce Gentry, emeritus English professor at GCSU, has spent decades teaching, researching and promoting the work of Flannery O’Connor, helping establish GCSU as a key center for O’Connor studies while inspiring students and scholars alike.
Gentry first encountered O’Connor’s work in a college class, and the experience left a lasting impression.
“The first time I read any Flannery O’Connor, it was in the only creative writing course I ever took, and it scared me to death,” he said.
Years later, he picked up “Wise Blood” at a used book sale, drawn in by a comparison to his favorite writer at the time, Franz Kafka. That moment led him to explore O’Connor’s work more deeply and ultimately made her writing a lifelong focus.
“I fell in love with Flannery O’Connor through her first novel, which most people seem to read as an act of obligation,” Gentry said.
He added that her characters and family dynamics felt strikingly familiar.
“Her people are my people. I mean, my relatives are Flannery O’Connor’s characters. My family tension is Flannery O’Connor’s family tension. Well, it’s not that bad, but it’s comparable,” Gentry said.
Gentry’s interest in O’Connor eventually became the focus of his dissertation, which he later turned into a book. His dedication ultimately brought him to GCSU—O’Connor’s alma mater and hometown—after attending an academic conference in Denmark in 2002.
“I really, really, really wanted to come to Milledgeville,” Gentry said. “I had a very high fever the day before my on-campus interview because I was so intense about it.”
At GCSU, Gentry spent more than 20 years teaching O’Connor’s works, editing The Flannery O’Connor Review, a peer-reviewed academic journal focused on the life, work and world of O’Connor, and supporting events and research centered on her life and writing.
“I was just kind of on call to do whatever anybody wanted done having to do with Flannery O’Connor for all those years,” he said. “And it was quite thrilling.”
He said teaching O’Connor gave students the opportunity to grapple with complex ideas and develop critical thinking skills.
“I successfully pushed students to see the works as very complicated and ambiguous and confusing,” he said. “The fun was in complicating things and showing them you could easily just say the opposite.”
Gentry also worked to support other scholars in sharing their research on O’Connor.
“My job with The Flannery O’Connor Review was mostly to get to know people who are interested in O’Connor, encourage them to submit their work and send it out to scholarly referees,” he said. “I tried to spend as much time as possible being helpful rather than saying no.”
Over the years, Gentry has helped students gain opportunities, secure publications and build careers. He recalls moments such as receiving approval for National Endowment for the Humanities summer institutes and hosting visiting scholars as highlights of his career, but says some of the most meaningful experiences came from seeing his students succeed.
“When I have a student who gets into the school they want to go to, and they’re having their success, or they win a prize, or they get a publication—that’s almost as pleasurable as something for me,” he said.
Gentry has also played a key role in fostering scholarly conversation around O’Connor’s work, helping coordinate summer institutes, conferences and events that bring professors, scholars and students to Milledgeville to engage deeply with her writing.
“Mostly my response was to get into trouble,” he said of challenging scholars and students to think critically. “I find it all very amusing and fulfilling and fun. I’ve never wanted to force anybody to read Flannery O’Connor. If you open the door and say, ‘Anybody wants to talk about finding your own common stuff, come on in,’ we’ll do it.”
Being part of these efforts has given Gentry a front-row seat to the ways O’Connor’s work continues to inspire both students and the broader GCSU community.
“Being around for these things to happen and thinking it’s fun, being involved, seeing projects grow—that’s great,” he said. “The most important thing about GCSU culturally is Flannery. If you have any interest in her, you will find yourself involved in all sorts of things that are fun and good for your career.”
Even in retirement, Gentry remains engaged with O’Connor’s legacy, hosting book clubs and giving presentations, always emphasizing discussion and debate.
“I’m happy to hand it off now and help others continue it,” he said. “There’s always new material, new projects and new students excited about it. That’s the fun part—watching it grow and prosper.”
For those interested in exploring Flannery O’Connor’s work, GCSU offers a wide range of resources, events and courses inspired by her legacy. Whether you’re a student or simply a fan, there are plenty of opportunities to engage with her work and discover why her stories continue to challenge and inspire readers.
