I’m been a fan of Louis Auchincloss for decades. No one except F. Scott Fitzgerald has so accurately captured the world of the moneyed class so well in stories and novels. In addition to his fiction, Auchincloss’s canniness in essays both enlightens and entertains. This volume was first published in 1965. Auchincloss celebrated women writers long before it became fashionable. After reading about these nine wonderful writers, I felt like dropping everything and read a bunch of their books. A casual reader will find these plainly written essays informative and intriguing. Highly recommended! GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Pioneers & Caretakers
Sarah Orne Jewett
Edith Wharton
Ellen Glasgow
Willa Cather
Elizabeth Madox Roberts
Katherine Anne Porter
Jean Stafford
Carson McCullers
Mary McCarthy
Index
I liked him so much too. But don’t think I read this one. Hope my library has it.
Patti, I’m always interested in the essays of working writers on other writers. Auchincloss was way ahead of his time with this book.
I wish I knew of this in college when I did a long paper on Ellen Glasgow. I read a dozzen or so of her books including the autobiography. She led quite the checkered life. I will look for this to see Auchincloss’s take on her and the others.
My all-time favorite Auchincloss story is from Pete Hamill’s memoir, about the two of them – the guy raised on the tough streets of Brooklyn and the patrician aristocrat – bonding over their mutual love for the Bomba the Jungle Boy books.
Jeff, Louis Auchincloss is one of the writers I wish I could have met. I’m reading the novels that have been waiting patiently for me to get to them. And, I’ve really enjoyed Auchincloss’s s essays. I’m reading his book on Henry James right now.
I read his book on James too.
Whoops, just checked. He did a separate book on Ellen Glasgow that I read when I did the paper. Hey, it’s 40 years ago. I can’t remember everything!
Jeff, I did not think to save my College papers from 40 years ago!
I think I have a couple of them still. I think it must have been this book I read because he did not write a separate Glasgow book. But then, she was no Henry James.
Jeff, I read Auchincloss’s Henry James book when I was working on my dissertation. It was the best (and clearest) book on James that I read (and I read dozens). I picked up Auchincloss’s other essay collections at Library Sales years ago but I’m only getting around to reading them now. I don’t know why I waited so long!
I just reserved a couple more of his books at the library, including his collected stories and a second book of author portraits.
Jeff, I have the COLLECTED STORIES. I’m missing a few of his very early novels, but I have the bulk of Auchincloss’s oeuvre.
George, I read just one book by Louis Auchincloss, THE EMBEZZLER, in my youth and then forgot all about the author. I still remember him as a good writer, based on that one novel.
Prashant, I plan to read a lot more of Auchincloss’s novels over the summer. THE EMBEZZLER is on my Read Real Soon stack.