A Boy No More

Ending his richly evocative trio of memoirs (after Being a Boy and A Boy's War ), Davis returns to 1946, when he was 21. Back home in Winston-Salem after four years in the Army, he decided to study at Johns Hopkins, where empathetic teachers and friends led him to discover his vocation: writing. Hired by the Winston-Salem Gazette, Davis exulted in the company of skylarking yet hardworking reporters and editors as he learned his craft. Readers of this disarming, stylish story will treasure the newspaperman's early experiences--the cornerstone of his career as a professor of journalism, author of 10 books and editorial columnist for the Roanoke (Va.) Times & World News. Even more enjoyable are Davis's remembrances of his lasting friendships with, among others, Tom Wicker of the New York Times and the late Arnold Ehrlich, editor of Publishers Weekly. Photos not seen by PW. (Aug.)