Meanwhile There Are Letters: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonald

Author: Marrs, Suzanne

Edition: First Edition

Number Of Pages: 568

Details:

*2016 Edgar Award Finalist* *2016 Anthony Award Finalist* *2016 Macavity Award Finalist* In 1970, Ross Macdonald wrote a letter to Eudora Welty, beginning a thirteen-year correspondence between fellow writers and kindred spirits. Though separated by background, geography, genre, and his marriage, the two authors shared their lives in witty, wry, tender, and at times profoundly romantic letters, each drawing on the other for inspiration, comfort, and strength. They brought their literary talents to bear on a wide range of topics, discussing each others' publications, the process of translating life into fiction, the nature of the writer’s block each encountered, books they were reading, and friends and colleagues they cherished. They also discussed the world around them, the Vietnam War, the Nixon, Carter, and Reagan presidencies, and the environmental threats facing the nation. The letters reveal the impact each had on the other’s work, and they show the personal support Welty provided when Alzheimer’s destroyed Macdonald’s ability to communicate and write. The editors of this collection, who are the definitive biographers of these two literary figures, have provided extensive commentary and an introduction. They also include Welty’s story fragment “Henry,” which addresses Macdonald’s disease. With its mixture of correspondence and narrative, Meanwhile There Are Letters provides a singular reading experience: a prose portrait of two remarkable artists and one unforgettable relationship.

Reviews:

“What a pleasure it is to be allowed this glimpse into the decade-long literary friendship between Pulitzer-prize-winning Southern writer, Eudora Welty, and renowned crime writer, Ross Macdonald. Throughout their correspondence, their mutual admiration and affection are evident. Tom Nolan and Suzanne Marrs have done a masterful job of presenting these amazing letters that so vividly trace a remarkable relationship.” —Sue Grafton, New York Times best-selling author

"These letters between Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonald are unexpected and exhilarating. We owe Suzanne Marrs and Tom Nolan a debt of gratitude for the important labor of love." —Richard Russo

"Scintillating . . . Their letters, rarely separated by more than a few days, are an engrossing catalogue of shared passions . . . Each was a perceptive reader of the other . . . their responses to one another glow with warmth and even love . . . “Henry,” [Welty's] unfinished story about an Alzheimer’s sufferer, supplies a moving postscript to this poignant exchange of letters and love." — Publishers Weekly “An intimate, luminous portrait of a friendship.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review “Whether read straight through as a narrative or enjoyed over time in short takes, this is a letter collection to be savored.” — Booklist, starred review

"Gives us the feel of love rising off the page."— The New York Times

"This is one of the finest books in an unusually rich year for biographical and critical works in the mystery field. The Edgar, should it win one, would presumably go to the editors, Welty biographer Suzanne Marrs and Macdonald biographer Tom Nolan, who have expertly provided the necessary bridges and identifications to shape the material into a rewarding whole. In effect, Macdonald and Welty have collaborated on a posthumous epistolary novel, one that delivers through reality the emotional power and truthfulness of great fiction." — Mystery Scene Magazine “Eudora Welty and Ross Macdonald are giants of American literature. These exquisite letters chart the growth of a deep and abiding friendship. And, astoundingly, they become a love story that will break your heart.” —Alfred Uhry, author of Driving Miss Daisy and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, the Tony Award, and the Oscar “What could be better than a love built on friendship, and a friendship built on letters? To catch a glimpse into the inner lives of these tender, brilliant, bookish souls is a t...

EAN: 9781628725278

Release Date: 14-07-2015

Languages: English

Item Note: Great shape- pages are unmarked and sharp. Hardcover Used - Very Good Ships fast! 2015First Edition

Item Condition: UsedVeryGood

Binding: Hardcover