Friday, April 09, 2004
The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective)
welcomes questions about literary mysteries and scandals, which should be sent to: woodyswoody@hotmail.com. The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective) is published on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, by Jonathanames.com Just so you know, Jonathan Ames, our mentor here at The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective), has a new book coming out in July, called, Wake Up, Sir!
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Novelist cum Hollywood Hack? A William Faulkner Mystery
Question:Dear Literary Lightfoot,
I'm probably just questioning the cinematic license of Joel and Ethan Coen, but I always pondered just to what extent BARTON FINK's W.P. Mayhew, the dissolute esteemed Southern novelist cum Hollywood hack obviously based on Faulkner (the physical resemblance between John Mahoney and Faulkner is startling) is fiction. Namely, the relationship with a comely "personal secretary" who, beyond providing empathy and love whilst he fought the demons of booze and visions of his "disturbed wife", essentially ghost-wrote later works. I regrettably know little about Faulkner despite having read several novels...can you please clear this up for me?
Many thanks,
J. Fiske
Answer: Mayhew is based on Faulkner, but the Coens took a lot of liberties. From Joel & Ethan Coen: Blood Siblings:
"Was there any significance to him [Barton Fink] writing about wrestling? Wrestling with his soul, perhaps?
ETHAN: There were all sorts of things that made that appealing. One was pairing him off with John Goodman in size and in build. Also, before writing that movie, we read a book called City of Nuts by Otto Fredrich. It’s about Hollywood in the Forties, and in it he mentions that William Faulkner had worked on wrestling movies." (Joel & Ethan Coen: Blood Siblings. Edited by Paul A. Woods. Spain Plexus Publishing, LTD. 2003. p. 9)
When I went to look for City of Nuts, I couldn’t find it. Later, I found out that the book is really called, City of Nets; I would have looked it up, but the last couple of days I have been busy and sick. Anyway, the Coens speak more explicitly of the Mayhew/Faulkner connection:
" The character of W.P. Mayhew is directly inspired by Faulkner.
ETHAN: Yeah, the Southern alcoholic writer. It’s obvious that we chose John Mahoney for that part because of his resemblance to Faulkner, but it was also because we were very keen to work with him. There again, it’s a starting point and the parallel is superficial. In the details, Mayhew is very different from Faulkner, he hasn’t had the same experience in Hollywood at all.
JOEL: It’s obvious Faulkner had the same disdain as Mayhew for Hollywood, but his alcoholism didn’t paralyze him and he continued to be productive." (Ibid., 98)
The Coens provide us with good information, but they don’t address the issue of the personal secretary. So I decided to ask Richard Gray, author of several books on American Southern Literature, including The Life of William Faulkner: A Critical Biography for assistance. Gray, who is Professor of English at The University of Essex, graciously replied to my call for help, writing:
“Dear Mike
Briefly:
WF had a long-term relationship with a script editor for Howard Hawks called Meta Carpenter (she wrote a book about it called 'A Loving Gentleman'). Meta came from Memphis, Tennessee (i.e. 'home' or not far from it, for WF). She also looked after him. And the Coen brothers are clearly playing with this - and mischievously suggesting that arguably WF's greatest novel, 'Absalom, Absalom!', was written by Meta. It's a good joke, rather than the truth, but it's still a good joke. On cue or not, John Mahoney has clearly modelled his performance on WF -gait (WF had a bad back), choice of phrases and drink, and clipped upper-class Mississippi accent.
Well, when WF first went to Hollywood, to MGM, he was asked to work on a Wallace Beery picture. He didn't work on it. It's a long story - which I'll eventually be telling in a lecture on WF and Hollywood for the British Academy - but the gist is that he walked out of the screening studio, where he was being shown Beery's most recent movie (to inspire him, I guess), saying he knew how it was going to end, and disappeared for several days. He claimed he went to Death Valley. Perhaps he did; then again, perhaps he went on a not untypical extended drinking binge. But he never actually worked on a wrestling picture.
Hope this helps
Richard Gray”
So, I think that answers J. Fiske’s question. It is the opinion of The Literary Dick that William Faulkner did not have a personal assistant who ghost wrote his later novels.
I’d like to thank Professor Gray very much for his help, and for letting me share his email.
welcomes questions about literary mysteries and scandals, which should be sent to: woodyswoody@hotmail.com. The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective) is published on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, by Jonathanames.com Just so you know, Jonathan Ames, our mentor here at The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective), has a new book coming out in July, called, Wake Up, Sir!
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Novelist cum Hollywood Hack? A William Faulkner Mystery
Question:Dear Literary Lightfoot,
I'm probably just questioning the cinematic license of Joel and Ethan Coen, but I always pondered just to what extent BARTON FINK's W.P. Mayhew, the dissolute esteemed Southern novelist cum Hollywood hack obviously based on Faulkner (the physical resemblance between John Mahoney and Faulkner is startling) is fiction. Namely, the relationship with a comely "personal secretary" who, beyond providing empathy and love whilst he fought the demons of booze and visions of his "disturbed wife", essentially ghost-wrote later works. I regrettably know little about Faulkner despite having read several novels...can you please clear this up for me?
Many thanks,
J. Fiske
Answer: Mayhew is based on Faulkner, but the Coens took a lot of liberties. From Joel & Ethan Coen: Blood Siblings:
"Was there any significance to him [Barton Fink] writing about wrestling? Wrestling with his soul, perhaps?
ETHAN: There were all sorts of things that made that appealing. One was pairing him off with John Goodman in size and in build. Also, before writing that movie, we read a book called City of Nuts by Otto Fredrich. It’s about Hollywood in the Forties, and in it he mentions that William Faulkner had worked on wrestling movies." (Joel & Ethan Coen: Blood Siblings. Edited by Paul A. Woods. Spain Plexus Publishing, LTD. 2003. p. 9)
When I went to look for City of Nuts, I couldn’t find it. Later, I found out that the book is really called, City of Nets; I would have looked it up, but the last couple of days I have been busy and sick. Anyway, the Coens speak more explicitly of the Mayhew/Faulkner connection:
" The character of W.P. Mayhew is directly inspired by Faulkner.
ETHAN: Yeah, the Southern alcoholic writer. It’s obvious that we chose John Mahoney for that part because of his resemblance to Faulkner, but it was also because we were very keen to work with him. There again, it’s a starting point and the parallel is superficial. In the details, Mayhew is very different from Faulkner, he hasn’t had the same experience in Hollywood at all.
JOEL: It’s obvious Faulkner had the same disdain as Mayhew for Hollywood, but his alcoholism didn’t paralyze him and he continued to be productive." (Ibid., 98)
The Coens provide us with good information, but they don’t address the issue of the personal secretary. So I decided to ask Richard Gray, author of several books on American Southern Literature, including The Life of William Faulkner: A Critical Biography for assistance. Gray, who is Professor of English at The University of Essex, graciously replied to my call for help, writing:
“Dear Mike
Briefly:
WF had a long-term relationship with a script editor for Howard Hawks called Meta Carpenter (she wrote a book about it called 'A Loving Gentleman'). Meta came from Memphis, Tennessee (i.e. 'home' or not far from it, for WF). She also looked after him. And the Coen brothers are clearly playing with this - and mischievously suggesting that arguably WF's greatest novel, 'Absalom, Absalom!', was written by Meta. It's a good joke, rather than the truth, but it's still a good joke. On cue or not, John Mahoney has clearly modelled his performance on WF -gait (WF had a bad back), choice of phrases and drink, and clipped upper-class Mississippi accent.
Well, when WF first went to Hollywood, to MGM, he was asked to work on a Wallace Beery picture. He didn't work on it. It's a long story - which I'll eventually be telling in a lecture on WF and Hollywood for the British Academy - but the gist is that he walked out of the screening studio, where he was being shown Beery's most recent movie (to inspire him, I guess), saying he knew how it was going to end, and disappeared for several days. He claimed he went to Death Valley. Perhaps he did; then again, perhaps he went on a not untypical extended drinking binge. But he never actually worked on a wrestling picture.
Hope this helps
Richard Gray”
So, I think that answers J. Fiske’s question. It is the opinion of The Literary Dick that William Faulkner did not have a personal assistant who ghost wrote his later novels.
I’d like to thank Professor Gray very much for his help, and for letting me share his email.
Wednesday, April 07, 2004
The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective)
welcomes questions about literary mysteries and scandals, which should be sent to: woodyswoody@hotmail.com. The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective) is published on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, by Jonathanames.com. Just so you know, Jonathan Ames, our mentor here at this website, has a new book coming out in July, called, Wake Up, Sir!
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The Salinger Question, pt. I
A while ago I posted Michael H.W.’s two questions to me. I will now give my solution to the first question, which was,
“Is there any truth to the rumors that JD Salinger has written a number of books that won't be published until his death or a certain number of years after his death? Also, he is so secretive, how do we know he's not dead already?”
Answer: As I told Michael, I was glad someone finally asked a J.D. Salinger question. Back in college, I wrote my dissertation on some of Salinger’s uncollected stories. These are stories that Salinger wrote which were published in magazines like, The Saturday Evening Post and Collier’s. After Salinger got famous, the powers that be wanted to republish these stories in book form. Salinger didn’t want this and these stories (with a few exceptions) have never been legally anthologized. Speaking to the New York Times in 1974, of the illegal publication of The Complete Uncollected Short Stories of J.D. Salinger, Vols. 1 and 2, Salinger said,
“Some stories, my property, have been stolen […] Someone’s appropriated them. It’s an illicit act. It's unfair. Suppose you had a coat you liked and somebody went into your closet and stole it. That's how I feel.” (Fosburgh, Lacy. “J.D. Salinger Speaks About His Silence.” New York Times 3 November 1974: 1)
While Salinger says it is as if he is having his wardrobe pilfered, that is not really the case. The stories that made up the collection were not taken from amongst those the author is reported to keep under lock and key at his home in Cornish, New Hampshire; they were and are available to anyone with a good public library or just a handy stack of the right old magazines. The people who put together The Uncollected had these things and time on their hands to type up all the stories and put together their little books.
Of writing and publishing, Salinger told The Times,
“There is a marvelous peace in not publishing. It's peaceful. [...] Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy. I like to write. I love to write. But I write just for myself and my own pleasure.” (Ibid., 1)
J.D. Salinger said this when he was 55, about nine years after he had last had a story published. I know of nothing to suggest that Salinger quit writing any time after this interview. So I think it’s very safe to say that he has written at least a few stories (and possibly some novels) that we’ve never seen. I have no idea what arraignments Salinger has made for this work upon his death, and realistically I don’t think there’s any way that I’m going to find out.
As far as being dead or alive, it is the opinion of the Literary Dick that J.D. Salinger is alive. I just think that if he died, someone would say something.
If you want to find out where you can look up those uncollected Salinger stories, (I think there are about 20 or so of them) go to www.Salinger.org. On that excellent website it says that there are Salinger stories that were never published that have ended up in the Princeton University Library Archives. I am hoping to finagle my way into these archives, to get a look at those stories. If I do, I’ll let you know about it.
welcomes questions about literary mysteries and scandals, which should be sent to: woodyswoody@hotmail.com. The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective) is published on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, by Jonathanames.com. Just so you know, Jonathan Ames, our mentor here at this website, has a new book coming out in July, called, Wake Up, Sir!
_______________________________________________________________
The Salinger Question, pt. I
A while ago I posted Michael H.W.’s two questions to me. I will now give my solution to the first question, which was,
“Is there any truth to the rumors that JD Salinger has written a number of books that won't be published until his death or a certain number of years after his death? Also, he is so secretive, how do we know he's not dead already?”
Answer: As I told Michael, I was glad someone finally asked a J.D. Salinger question. Back in college, I wrote my dissertation on some of Salinger’s uncollected stories. These are stories that Salinger wrote which were published in magazines like, The Saturday Evening Post and Collier’s. After Salinger got famous, the powers that be wanted to republish these stories in book form. Salinger didn’t want this and these stories (with a few exceptions) have never been legally anthologized. Speaking to the New York Times in 1974, of the illegal publication of The Complete Uncollected Short Stories of J.D. Salinger, Vols. 1 and 2, Salinger said,
“Some stories, my property, have been stolen […] Someone’s appropriated them. It’s an illicit act. It's unfair. Suppose you had a coat you liked and somebody went into your closet and stole it. That's how I feel.” (Fosburgh, Lacy. “J.D. Salinger Speaks About His Silence.” New York Times 3 November 1974: 1)
While Salinger says it is as if he is having his wardrobe pilfered, that is not really the case. The stories that made up the collection were not taken from amongst those the author is reported to keep under lock and key at his home in Cornish, New Hampshire; they were and are available to anyone with a good public library or just a handy stack of the right old magazines. The people who put together The Uncollected had these things and time on their hands to type up all the stories and put together their little books.
Of writing and publishing, Salinger told The Times,
“There is a marvelous peace in not publishing. It's peaceful. [...] Publishing is a terrible invasion of my privacy. I like to write. I love to write. But I write just for myself and my own pleasure.” (Ibid., 1)
J.D. Salinger said this when he was 55, about nine years after he had last had a story published. I know of nothing to suggest that Salinger quit writing any time after this interview. So I think it’s very safe to say that he has written at least a few stories (and possibly some novels) that we’ve never seen. I have no idea what arraignments Salinger has made for this work upon his death, and realistically I don’t think there’s any way that I’m going to find out.
As far as being dead or alive, it is the opinion of the Literary Dick that J.D. Salinger is alive. I just think that if he died, someone would say something.
If you want to find out where you can look up those uncollected Salinger stories, (I think there are about 20 or so of them) go to www.Salinger.org. On that excellent website it says that there are Salinger stories that were never published that have ended up in the Princeton University Library Archives. I am hoping to finagle my way into these archives, to get a look at those stories. If I do, I’ll let you know about it.
Sunday, April 04, 2004
The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective)
welcomes questions about literary mysteries and scandals, which should be sent to: woodyswoody@hotmail.com. The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective) is published on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, by Jonathanames.com. And just so you know, Jonathan Ames, our spiritual sensei here at The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective), has a new book coming out in July, called, Wake Up, Sir!
_____________________________________________________________________
Before we get to Sexual Perversion in the library, I’d like to share this email I just received:
Dear Lit Dick- (Lit P.I.)
Who coined the phrase “San Francisco Poetry Renaissance” ?
Jim B.
Oh yeah, before we get to Sexual Perversion in the library, I’d like to let you know that I might shortly be mentioned in two newspaper articles. I will keep you posted about that.
Sexual Perversion in the library,
The other day I was at the library and I started flipping through the Encyclopedia of Esoteric Man. Somehow, I found myself looking at the entry for ‘Sexual Perversion’; this turned out to be fortuitous, as I had always wondered why some women are lesbians and why some men have sex with crocodiles.
So I just thought I’d take this opportunity to share with you some of the things I learned from that book.
I bet you didn’t know that,
“A small number of deviations, including sodomy, are common to all societies, but most of them emerge in advanced and degenerate cultures. They represent a disease of civilization, resulting from early and continuous sexual stimulation, increasing nervous tension, over-excitation of the sexual centers. The facility with which normal sexual satisfaction is obtained leads to jaded sensibilities and need special stimulation to reach the desired end.” (Walker, Benjamin. Encyclopedia of Esoteric Man. London and Henley, Routledge & Kegan Paul: 1977. p. 265)
And why, you ask, are some women lesbians? Apparently,
“Lesbianism, or homosexuality among women, is practiced because of fear, hatred or disgust of the male sex; lack of sexual satisfaction from heterosexual intercourse; dissatisfaction with marriage; fear of childbirth and pregnancy; lack of opportunity for heterosexual relationship; a desire for raising power in sex magic rites.” (Ibid., 266)
And what about sex with crocodiles?
“More unusual types of bestiality are sometimes practiced in order to acquire magical power or material success. Congress with crocodiles, for instance, was practiced in ancient Egypt as part of divine worship. During intercourse with her mate, the female crocodile turns over on her back while the mate mounts her, and she can only resume her normal position with great difficulty. Richard Burton (d. 1890) quotes a French traveller’s account of bestiality he witnessed among the fellahin of Egypt. The men, taking advantage of the female crocodile’s helpless position, drive off the male and ‘supplant him in this frightful intercourse’. This congress, adds Burton, is believed to be ‘the sovereignest for rising to rank and riches’.” (Ibid., 266-267)
I hope you enjoyed reading this.
welcomes questions about literary mysteries and scandals, which should be sent to: woodyswoody@hotmail.com. The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective) is published on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, by Jonathanames.com. And just so you know, Jonathan Ames, our spiritual sensei here at The Literary Dick (as in Private Detective), has a new book coming out in July, called, Wake Up, Sir!
_____________________________________________________________________
Before we get to Sexual Perversion in the library, I’d like to share this email I just received:
Dear Lit Dick- (Lit P.I.)
Who coined the phrase “San Francisco Poetry Renaissance” ?
Jim B.
Oh yeah, before we get to Sexual Perversion in the library, I’d like to let you know that I might shortly be mentioned in two newspaper articles. I will keep you posted about that.
Sexual Perversion in the library,
The other day I was at the library and I started flipping through the Encyclopedia of Esoteric Man. Somehow, I found myself looking at the entry for ‘Sexual Perversion’; this turned out to be fortuitous, as I had always wondered why some women are lesbians and why some men have sex with crocodiles.
So I just thought I’d take this opportunity to share with you some of the things I learned from that book.
I bet you didn’t know that,
“A small number of deviations, including sodomy, are common to all societies, but most of them emerge in advanced and degenerate cultures. They represent a disease of civilization, resulting from early and continuous sexual stimulation, increasing nervous tension, over-excitation of the sexual centers. The facility with which normal sexual satisfaction is obtained leads to jaded sensibilities and need special stimulation to reach the desired end.” (Walker, Benjamin. Encyclopedia of Esoteric Man. London and Henley, Routledge & Kegan Paul: 1977. p. 265)
And why, you ask, are some women lesbians? Apparently,
“Lesbianism, or homosexuality among women, is practiced because of fear, hatred or disgust of the male sex; lack of sexual satisfaction from heterosexual intercourse; dissatisfaction with marriage; fear of childbirth and pregnancy; lack of opportunity for heterosexual relationship; a desire for raising power in sex magic rites.” (Ibid., 266)
And what about sex with crocodiles?
“More unusual types of bestiality are sometimes practiced in order to acquire magical power or material success. Congress with crocodiles, for instance, was practiced in ancient Egypt as part of divine worship. During intercourse with her mate, the female crocodile turns over on her back while the mate mounts her, and she can only resume her normal position with great difficulty. Richard Burton (d. 1890) quotes a French traveller’s account of bestiality he witnessed among the fellahin of Egypt. The men, taking advantage of the female crocodile’s helpless position, drive off the male and ‘supplant him in this frightful intercourse’. This congress, adds Burton, is believed to be ‘the sovereignest for rising to rank and riches’.” (Ibid., 266-267)
I hope you enjoyed reading this.
