I Know You Will Make It

In these thoughtful stories and poems, Safford Chamberlain skillfully evokes the post-World War II era when American society encouraged repression over expression and conformity over individuality, and he shows vividly the cost its young people paid as a result. His protagonistgs are imbued with the longing and uncertainty that come with change as they walk a fine line between maintaining the courage of their convictions and making terrible mistakes that may result in years of suffering and loneliness. The backdrop of nightclubs and jazz provides the perfect atmosphere for these young men to work through what troubles them. (Manuel Perea, Creative Writing Instructor, Pasadena City College)

Safford Chamberlain received his BA from Pomona College in 1950 and his MA from Cornell University in 1954. From 1955 to 1989 he taught English, mostly at East Los Angeles College, interspersed with 3-4 years as Literature and Drama Program Director at KPFK-FM, a Pacifica radio station. After retiring from teaching in 1989, he published his biography of jazz musician Warne Marsh, An Unsung Cat: The Life and Music of Warne Marsh, Scarecrow Press, Lanham, Maryland, 2000. Chamberlain lives with his wife Sharyn Crane in South Pasadena, California.