I absolutely loved this! It's funny, I'm by no means qualified to be a biographer but the other day I thought, "someone needs to write a biography about this woman and if no one does soon then I guess I will." I won't, but I've been chewing on that feeling, that desire to sink into another woman's life and retell it. In reality, I think I've always been this way, finding a woman of the past to sink into and read up on (Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Bacall, Marisol Escobar... it goes on). Everything you said here I resonate with so so much. And I think I need this Kay Boyle biography pronto! She sounds INCREDIBLE.
Kay Boyle! A magnificent writer whose name I haven’t heard in years. In my teens, I received her short stories as a gift from my mother. It’s been at least 50 years since I read her work. You make me want to reread her. And yes, she deserves that biography.
What Kay Boyle short stories or novel(s) would you recommend as must reads? Plagued by the Nightingale sounds intriguing, but I don’t like the sound of Death of a Man. Lol! I’m envious of your time in Scotland. I lived in Nairn when I was young. Loved it!
Hi Chris--I would recommend her collection Fifty Stories. It collects her best (and has a nice intro from Louise Erdrich). Her stories "The White Horses of Vienna" (about rise of Nazism in Austria) and "Defeat" (about the fall of France) both won the O. Henry Prize for the best stories of the year. Some of her post-war Germany stories in The Smoking Mountain are unbelievable good: "Adam's Death," "The Lost," and "Home" are my favorites. (All in Fifty Stories). "Men" is also really good, also from WWII. Her novellas "Crazy Hunter" and "The Bridegroom" are excellent, set in England and quiet different. Her early stories "Black Boy" and "Wedding Day" two very good early stories. Happy reading!
Yes! I read that too while I was in Siciliy, or part of it, and then I started If Women Rose Rooted and other books that seem to have grown out of it. These books have helped me so much!
I think your analogy of “dating” as a means of deciding if you want to spend years of your life immersed in another’s is perfect. There have been many interesting subjects for whom I thought I would like to write their biography, only to discover a flaw (often racism) that turns me away. So enjoy your thoughtfulness on your journey.
Thank you, Sharon! It's wonderful having you along. Kay Boyle's view on race is one of things I most admire about her. She was pointing out American hypocrisy in occupied Germany as it continued to practice segregation there. I think that was what got her blacklisted.
I absolutely loved this! It's funny, I'm by no means qualified to be a biographer but the other day I thought, "someone needs to write a biography about this woman and if no one does soon then I guess I will." I won't, but I've been chewing on that feeling, that desire to sink into another woman's life and retell it. In reality, I think I've always been this way, finding a woman of the past to sink into and read up on (Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Bacall, Marisol Escobar... it goes on). Everything you said here I resonate with so so much. And I think I need this Kay Boyle biography pronto! She sounds INCREDIBLE.
Hi Luka! I'm so glad this resonated with you. I wish I had time to write Kay Boyle's biography! She is an amazing writer and led an incredible life. You might enjoy this podcast interview I just did: https://www.lostladiesoflit.com/podcast/187-kay-boyle-fifty-stories-with-anne-boyd-rioux
Kay Boyle! A magnificent writer whose name I haven’t heard in years. In my teens, I received her short stories as a gift from my mother. It’s been at least 50 years since I read her work. You make me want to reread her. And yes, she deserves that biography.
That collection of 50 stories is amazing! Her best work is all there. I hope you can dig back in! Thanks for reading. :)
What Kay Boyle short stories or novel(s) would you recommend as must reads? Plagued by the Nightingale sounds intriguing, but I don’t like the sound of Death of a Man. Lol! I’m envious of your time in Scotland. I lived in Nairn when I was young. Loved it!
Hi Chris--I would recommend her collection Fifty Stories. It collects her best (and has a nice intro from Louise Erdrich). Her stories "The White Horses of Vienna" (about rise of Nazism in Austria) and "Defeat" (about the fall of France) both won the O. Henry Prize for the best stories of the year. Some of her post-war Germany stories in The Smoking Mountain are unbelievable good: "Adam's Death," "The Lost," and "Home" are my favorites. (All in Fifty Stories). "Men" is also really good, also from WWII. Her novellas "Crazy Hunter" and "The Bridegroom" are excellent, set in England and quiet different. Her early stories "Black Boy" and "Wedding Day" two very good early stories. Happy reading!
I am reading “ Women Who Run With the Wolves”. There are so many gold nuggets in it. CPE is brilliant
Yes! I read that too while I was in Siciliy, or part of it, and then I started If Women Rose Rooted and other books that seem to have grown out of it. These books have helped me so much!
I think your analogy of “dating” as a means of deciding if you want to spend years of your life immersed in another’s is perfect. There have been many interesting subjects for whom I thought I would like to write their biography, only to discover a flaw (often racism) that turns me away. So enjoy your thoughtfulness on your journey.
Thank you, Sharon! It's wonderful having you along. Kay Boyle's view on race is one of things I most admire about her. She was pointing out American hypocrisy in occupied Germany as it continued to practice segregation there. I think that was what got her blacklisted.