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The Letters of John Cheever

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( 129 ratings, 10 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Letters of John Cheever reveals the intimate correspondence of one of America's most celebrated writers. Edited by his son Benjamin Cheever, this collection shares personal letters to contemporaries like Philip Roth and John Updike, chronicling Cheever's struggles with bisexuality, alcoholism, and the challenges of his literary career. These letters offer a unique window into a writer whose calm exterior masked profound personal battles, matching the grace and wit found in his fiction.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This collection will appeal to readers interested in literary history, fans of John Cheever’s fiction, and those fascinated by the personal lives of prominent 20th-century authors. It is also suitable for anyone drawn to candid explorations of identity, creativity, and resilience.

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WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY JAY MCINERNEY

John Cheever's letters offer a tantalising glimpse into the life of a writer. They include correspondence with his contemporaries, such as Philip Roth, John Updike and Saul Bellow, his days as a young, aspiring writer and his battles with bisexuality and alcoholism.

'A writer of grace and wit, quietly dealing with people, like himself, who sense that their seemly, well-respected lives are being lived upon a precipice' Sunday Times

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A writer of grace and wit, quietly dealing with people, like himself, who sense that their seemly, well-respected lives are being lived upon a precipice - Sunday Times

With an introduction by Jay McInerney

The Letters of John Cheever offer a tantalising glimpse into the life of a writer. They include correspondence with his contemporaries, such as Philip Roth, John Updike, and Saul Bellow, his days as a young, aspiring writer, and his battles with bisexuality and alcoholism. In this collection, edited by his son Benjamin Cheever, we see how his private correspondence was as extraordinary as his published works.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Praised as a writer occupying a space between Fitzgerald and Updike, John Cheever’s letters demonstrate his mastery not only of fiction but also of the short letter form, according to the Sunday Times. Critics highlight the emotional and narrative depth in his correspondence, with Zoe Heller noting the charm of his brief, poignant letters. Reviews by the Independent and Los Angeles Times underscore the intense detail and haunting dialogue between Cheever's words and Benjamin Cheever's commentary.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099529644

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 05 November 2009

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 25.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 287g

Pages: 416

About the Author

John Cheever was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1912, and he went to school at Thayer Academy in South Braintree. He is the author of seven collections of stories and five novels. His first novel, The Wapshot Chronicle, won the 1958 National Book Award. In 1965 he received the Howells Medal for Fiction from the National Academy of Arts and Letters and in 1978 he won the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Shortly before his death in 1982 he was awarded the National Medal for Literature.

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