THE ENTHUSIAST: A Life of Thornton Wilder

by Gilbert A. Harrison ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 26, 1983

A considerable improvement over Linda Simon's 1979 biography, this study of playwright/novelist Wilder offers a bit more literary criticism, greater detail on his discreet homosexuality, and a folksily stylish narration--none of which, however, fully fends off the cheery dullness that seems to afflict any attempt at Wilder life-history. Harrison does a solid job with Thornton's early years--the autocratic diplomat/newsman-father, the constant moves, the ""misfit"" childhood--though there's a lack of psychological sophistication in his interpretation of the material. (The conflict with ever-disapproving father: ""How was a son to keep his self-respect under this battering? Thank God for Mother."") While following Wilder to Oberlin, Yale, and Italy for studies, and then back to America for schoolmastering, Harrison documents Thornton's recoilings from assorted female advances. Then, after the sudden celebrity of Bridge of San Luis Re), and the (presumably platonic) chumship with traveling-companion Gene Tunney, there's mention of an ""infatuation"" with a young philosopher--plus the new relationship with Gertrude Stein. (""She had always wanted to be a lion. . . Thornton was the perfect lionizer."") And after lectures, The Woman of Andros, and Hollywood work, Harrison considers Wilder's sexuality in more detail: a 1935 tryst with future pornographer Samuel Steward (a.k.a. Phil Andros); the evidence that ""any physical encounter was brief, awkward,"" leaving TW ""slightly embarrassed and probably remorseful""; Wilder's adoration, nonetheless, of idealized Womanhood. The book's second half, however, becomes more humdrum--especially after the theatrical excitements of Our Town and Skin of Our Teeth; there's travel, lecturing, writer's block, stalled projects, time-consuming involvements with dozens of friends as ""counselor-healer."" (""The key question is whether or to what extent the role of Everybody's Uncle diverted Thornton"" from his writing.) And, as for the work itself, Harrison notes autobiographical overtones, applauds Wilder's ""conditional optimism"" (in contrast to the negativism of the critics' favorites), defends The Eighth Day (""overadorned. . . but nowhere is it empty of meaning""), and considers the alter-ego role of the title character in Theophilus North. With chunks of quotation from Wilder letters and works: a somewhat superficial critical biography--but generally readable, reasonably balanced, and distinctly preferable to the Simon study.

Pub Date: Oct. 26, 1983

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Ticknor & Fields/Houghton Mifflin

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1983

Categories: NONFICTION