Notebooks
Tennessee Williams’s Notebooks, here published for the first time, presents by turns a passionate, whimsical, movingly lyrical, self-reflective, and completely uninhibited record of the life of this monumental American genius from 1936 to 1981, the
Rating: 
(out of 7 reviews)
List Price: $ 40.00
Price: $ 13.42
More Notebooks Products
Review by Charles S. Houser for Notebooks
Rating:
I signed this book out of the library knowing I could never be able to work my way through its 800+ pages in three weeks. First, I’m not a big reader of diaries or letters (I find them too vague and elliptical); secondly, it’s a massive book. But I have spent the entire morning leafing through it and am finding it mesmerizing. The editor/compiler, Margaret Bradham Thornton, has done an excellent job of providing notes, photographs, facsimile’s of handwritten poems and diary entries, and short biographies of the many people–famous, infamous, and unfamous–who passed through Williams’s life. Her tone is professional and forthright; she neither dodges nor wallows in discussion of Williams’s sexual life. The notebooks are complete in that they contain everything that is known to survive; they cover the periods from 1936 to 1958 and from 1979 to 1981 (Williams died in February 1983). If notebooks are ever found covering the missing years, I hope the Williams estate has the good sense to allow Thornton to edit them.
The format for this book is to run the notebook entries on the right-hand pages and use the facing pages for explanatory notes. The notes are in a smaller type and each page is packed with annotation, such is the generosity of Thornton. Another interesting feature is the inclusion of Williams’s own marginal notes. Apparently, he re-read his diaries years later and was not shy about criticizing his earlier self.
I think this book will be of interest to anyone interested in American cultural life in mid-twentieth century, not just in the theater and film, but dance, painting, poetry, fiction, etc. It’s amazing how these cultural worlds intersected and collided. This is a book I want to own. I’ve just ordered it from Amazon and will continue reading my library copy until it arrives. Fascinating stuff!
Review by Joan McCarthy for Notebooks
Rating:
This is a magnificent book, really two books, as Tennessee Williams’ journals are powerfully augmented by Thornton’s meticulously researched and engaging annotations. Opposite every page of journal entries, one finds the sources and background on Williams’ musings; Thornton gives us a map to Williams thoughts, and her notes enhance the journal entries immeasurably, making this book essential reading. It’s tough to put down, and almost impossible to read properly, that is, in order– no matter where one opens the book you are transported into the private life of this playwright whose works are so much a part of our literary and theatrical heritage. Thornton has also included a fascinating array of photographs which place Williams in the context of his time and his peers, and scribbled illustrations which add a whole other element to understanding this great writer– this book is not to be missed.
Review by Gregory Baird for Notebooks
Rating:
Margaret Bradham Thornton is to be commended for compiling Tennessee Williams’ journals with such painstaking attention to detail, in-depth analysis and thorough research. Her efforts afford the reader an amazing, unique glimpse into the life of an American literary giant — a man whose plays, including The Glass Menagerie, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and A Streetcar Named Desire, have become classics for the ages, not to mention a man who led an intriguing life in and out of the public eye. There is no shortage of skeletons to be found in Williams’ closet; his homosexuality is a particular source of angst to him in a world that did not approve of such a thing. He dallies with male prostitutes, and in one instance gets severely beaten for his troubles. Meanwhile, he is haunted by his sister, who underwent a frontal lobotomy after being institutionalized (it is his guilt over leaving her to pursue his writing that drove him to write “The Glass Menagerie,” which features a very Williams-esque young man desperate to escape his dreary life with a crippled sister and needy mother in order to pursue his dreams).
Through his notebooks, Williams provides you with a backstage pass to one of the most thrilling talents Broadway has ever seen, and through extensive footnoting Thornton puts it all into a clear narrative for you to follow along. She also includes countless photographs and pieces of artwork. There are moments when what Williams writes does not match up with what other interviewees recall, forcing Thornton and the reader to speculate as to which version is closer to the truth, but in “Notebooks” Williams does nothing short of bare his soul to the reader. It is utterly fascinating to experience his artist’s-eye-view of the world, and I would highly recommend this book.
Grade: A+
Review by William Shuman for Notebooks
Rating:
As a playwright, Williams is my muse. This volume is an extraordinary window into the life and psyche of one of the greatest playwrights of the English speaking world. It is a wonderful adjunct to the biographical data both from Williams himself and those close to him who have chronicled his life and work.
Review by Amos Lassen for Notebooks
Rating:
Thornton, Margaret Bradham, ed. “Tennessee Williams Notebooks”, Yale University Press, 2007.
A Brilliant Mind
Amos Lassen
What a job it must have been compiling the notebooks of Tennessee Williams. They cover almost every aspect of the playwright’s life and Margaret Bradham Thornton has done an amazing job. Through his own words and Thornton’s meticulous editing, we get a look into the unique life of an American literary titan. The man who penned such beautiful works for the American theatre led quite a life. He suffered from his only internalized homophobia even though he was himself a gay male–he felt somewhat out of place in a world that did not approve of his sexuality. He was haunted by his sister, Rose, and the guilt he felt about allowing her institutionalization and with these two strikes that he felt he had against himself, still managed to write some of the most endearing drama ever seen on the stage.
Williams’ notebooks take us behind the scenes of the man and his writing. Williams tells us, in his own words, so much about himself that at times it is staggering to read. His view of the world fascinates and enthralls.
In reality, this is two books–one, a look at the man’s private life and the other a look at the mind of a genius. Thornton provides on each page. The thoughts and the background to those thoughts placed opposite the pages of his journals. To get a glimpse of the mind of such a man of letters is a wonderful treat. The book is filled with notes and photographs, copies of poetry written by hand and entries from the diaries as well as biographies of those people that Williams had contact with. On the right hand side of the book are the notebook entries and on the left hand side are the notes. Also included are Williams’ own criticisms of his dairies.
Thornton provides a very readable and detailed narrative and her research is nothing short of amazing. She does not spend a great deal of time oh is sexual proclivities with other men but neither does she ignore them. There is no question whatsoever that Williams’ homosexuality influenced his writing and world view and that is all carefully explained by the editor. It is a book that you do not want to stop reading even with its 800 plus pages. And it is more than just a look at the playwright; it is a look into American culture and how all of the worlds of the arts come together.