Rufus is the first literary biography of James Agee to explore his life and work in the context of his Tennessee heritage. Beginning with his ancestors, and the circumstances that brought his parents together, the book details the people, places, and events that shaped Agee's experiences in Tennessee. A survey of his work reveals that, from his first writings to his posthumously-published novel, A Death in the Family, he continually drew upon memories of his home state. Relying heavily on family interviews, letters, Agee's own notes and writings, and including previously unpublished photographs, Rufus stands as the definitive account of Agee in Tennessee.