THOMAS WOLFE AND HIS FAMILY

by ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A

When Look Homeward, Angel appeared on Broadway, Wolfe's family attended the opening night. Chief among them was Mabel Wolfe Wheaton who had been with him during his last terrible illness and was deeply devoted to him. She did not like the play at all and felt that it mis-represented the loving relations of the Wolfe family, much as her brother had done in his own books. Papa was not just a besotted drunk, and Mama was not a grasping, sordid boarding-house keeper. If the Wolfe pack fought in real life, they always forgave each other the next moment and were very close to each other. So she decided to write a book telling the unvarnished (or whitewashed?) truth, signed a contract with LeGette Blythe, but died before its completion. Miss Blythe, through notes, taped records, etc., has finished the book in words and phrases as nearly like Mrs. Wheaton's as possible. So this is another addition to the Wolfe saga- and Mrs. Wheaton is characteristically wordy- emotional-formless. But whereas Wolfe's writing, undisciplined as it was, revealed the artist, Mrs. Wheaton's has less to offer- only a somewhat hysterical, middle-class Asheville matron. Still- there seems to be a constant audience for any new material on this contemporary literary legend.

Pub Date: N/A

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Doubleday

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1960

Categories: NONFICTION