John Cheever

A biography of great immediacy. . . . There are many sections of great poignancy, many funny things, many of electric intimacy and candor . . . there is spellbinding power, never more so than in describing Cheevers death, pages that are both terrible and deeply moving; one is losing an old, beloved friend. James Salter, Los Angeles Times Book Review John Cheever: A Biography is clearly an indispensable book. Donaldson moves gracefully from the personal to the literary. . . . Solidly researched and entirely readable, admiring of the writer and knowing about the man. Stuffed with fascinating anecdotes. Its a gut-wrenching story. Donaldson tells it straight, without embellishment, and our attention never strays. Dan Cryer, Newsday A coup of investigative reporting. Publishers Weekly Both erudite and earthly. What emerges is a rich tapestry that gives the reader extraordinary insight into the workings of a master storytellers mind. Jean Graham, New York Daily News John Cheever: A Biography by Scott Donaldson is as readable and unputdownable as any thriller. T. Coraghessan Boyle A revelation. What a triumph. Frederick Exley Donaldson has set a high standard that other biographers will find difficult to equal. John Blades, Chicago Tribune