“R” is for Rubin, Lewis Decimus, Jr. (1923-2013)

“R” is for Rubin, Lewis Decimus, Jr. (1923-2013). Teacher, author, editor, publisher. Born in Charleston, Rubin later used his hometown for settings and inspiration in his novels such as Surfaces of a Diamond and in nonfictional works such as Seaports of the South. After graduating from the University of Richmond, Rubin earned his Ph.D. from Johns Hopkins. From 1957 to1967 he taught at Hollins College. In 1967 he joined the English faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he guided students and future teachers of southern literature and culture. In 1989 Rubin retired to concentrate all his energies on Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, a press that he had founded in 1983 to encourage talented young writers. Louis Decimus Rubin, Jr.’s distinguished career brought him numerous awards and honors, including the sobriquet “Dean of Southern Literature.”