My God, that I should live to see this, praise of Marquand in the public prints (or pixels). He is my favorite novelist. I know, I know -- there are all those "greats" who are greater, and I admit it. I can even see sometimes why they are greater. But Marquand was (and is), like Maugham, good if not great. Very good. There is almost no time that I am not re-reading one of his novels, and even now, on a trip visiting my daughter's family, I am re-reading "B.F.'s Daughter." His best is supposed to be the Pulitzer-winning "The Late George Apley," but my heart belongs to "Wickford Point," which I have read, I believe, six times.
Actually, funnily enough, I also just turned in a lengthy piece on John P. Marquand. He's truly an underrated writer denied his rightful glory by the snobs who couldn't wrap their head around the man (a) writing for a popular audience or (b) sitting on the Book-of-the-Month Club board.
My God, that I should live to see this, praise of Marquand in the public prints (or pixels). He is my favorite novelist. I know, I know -- there are all those "greats" who are greater, and I admit it. I can even see sometimes why they are greater. But Marquand was (and is), like Maugham, good if not great. Very good. There is almost no time that I am not re-reading one of his novels, and even now, on a trip visiting my daughter's family, I am re-reading "B.F.'s Daughter." His best is supposed to be the Pulitzer-winning "The Late George Apley," but my heart belongs to "Wickford Point," which I have read, I believe, six times.
ReplyDeleteActually, funnily enough, I also just turned in a lengthy piece on John P. Marquand. He's truly an underrated writer denied his rightful glory by the snobs who couldn't wrap their head around the man (a) writing for a popular audience or (b) sitting on the Book-of-the-Month Club board.
ReplyDeleteAlso in praise of John P. Marquand: À la recherche du temps perdu, New England style.
ReplyDelete