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A review by perednia
What There Is to Say We Have Said: The Correspondence of Eudora Welty and William Maxwell by Suzanne Marrs
5.0
One magical evening in 1942, William Maxwell attended a party at which Eudora Welty told a story that completely enchanted him. It took until 1951, but Maxwell persevered until he convinced The New Yorker to accept a story of hers to publish. Well before that publication, they were writing to each other, exchanging news of roses, food, family, books and music, with Maxwell's wife Emily and Welty writing to each other as well.
For more than 50 years, they continued to write to each other. One of the world's great literary friendships is preserved in What There is to Say We Have Said, meticulously edited by Welty biographer and friend Suzanne Marrs.
The introduction by Marrs sets the loveliest tone about friendship by quoting Welty's own introduction to the famed Norton Book of Friendship. It brings to mind long-lasting friendships formed online, where we put ideas, hopes, dreams and disappointments into words to each other every day.
Their exchanges about writing itself as not as plentiful as a greedy reader would like. But the line-by-line edits they discuss over the work that was published in the magazine are master classes of how a careful and loving editor makes the finished work better but does not get in the way of the writer.
Welty and the Maxwells also do other people's fiction the honor of taking it on its own terms as they discuss other writers who they adore and whose work they admire, especially Katherine Anne Porter and Elizabeth Bowen.
The Maxwells also are protective of Welty, especially in later years as the honors bestowed on her, and the demands on her time, increase, even though it's highly doubtful her bank account did. On at least two occasions, Maxwell asks Welty to come live with them and be cared for. Maxwell also shines as a courtly gentleman of decency. Never a word is written that exists between them about Welty's love for Ross McDonald, who was married. Instead, there is rejoicing at the accomplishments of the two Maxwell daughters and Welty's nieces.
They bear their gradual declines with grace. Welty was in such poor health that no letters from her exist after 1990, 11 years before she died, while Maxwell's last letter was written in 1996, four years before he died. But as the letter from which this collection's title is taken states, these friends shared their ideas and lives for more than 50 years so whatever they could have said they probably did.
And for those who treasure the earnest searching that results in honest writing about the ins and outs of the human heart, there is much to ponder over in these letters. They lead to a desire to read again or discover for the first time the sheer pleasure of the fiction of both Maxwell and Welty. The letters are a testament to friendship, and they are a balm in these days of betrayal, backstabbing and bitterness.
For more than 50 years, they continued to write to each other. One of the world's great literary friendships is preserved in What There is to Say We Have Said, meticulously edited by Welty biographer and friend Suzanne Marrs.
The introduction by Marrs sets the loveliest tone about friendship by quoting Welty's own introduction to the famed Norton Book of Friendship. It brings to mind long-lasting friendships formed online, where we put ideas, hopes, dreams and disappointments into words to each other every day.
Their exchanges about writing itself as not as plentiful as a greedy reader would like. But the line-by-line edits they discuss over the work that was published in the magazine are master classes of how a careful and loving editor makes the finished work better but does not get in the way of the writer.
Welty and the Maxwells also do other people's fiction the honor of taking it on its own terms as they discuss other writers who they adore and whose work they admire, especially Katherine Anne Porter and Elizabeth Bowen.
The Maxwells also are protective of Welty, especially in later years as the honors bestowed on her, and the demands on her time, increase, even though it's highly doubtful her bank account did. On at least two occasions, Maxwell asks Welty to come live with them and be cared for. Maxwell also shines as a courtly gentleman of decency. Never a word is written that exists between them about Welty's love for Ross McDonald, who was married. Instead, there is rejoicing at the accomplishments of the two Maxwell daughters and Welty's nieces.
They bear their gradual declines with grace. Welty was in such poor health that no letters from her exist after 1990, 11 years before she died, while Maxwell's last letter was written in 1996, four years before he died. But as the letter from which this collection's title is taken states, these friends shared their ideas and lives for more than 50 years so whatever they could have said they probably did.
And for those who treasure the earnest searching that results in honest writing about the ins and outs of the human heart, there is much to ponder over in these letters. They lead to a desire to read again or discover for the first time the sheer pleasure of the fiction of both Maxwell and Welty. The letters are a testament to friendship, and they are a balm in these days of betrayal, backstabbing and bitterness.