m-. .. ,
,y W I
- 1 -4 .
Leggett
presents
studies of
authors
Writing is a dangerous business. Sherwinj Coiy, In
his Art of Writing and Speaking the! English
Language, (1903), warns would-be authors: j'Thej man
who devotes himself exclusively to literature is
almost sure to become more or less morbic , ard we
venture to assert that the successful novelist of
today who lives by his' pen has . . . a constant fight
against morbidity, and one in which he is not always
successful." . .
In Ross and Tom, John Leggett present:, derailed
studies of two authors who fought such a fight and
lost both committed suicide after achieving
fantastic success with their first novels. j
Ross Lockridge (1914-1948) achieved fanu wlih his
first and only novel, Rain tree County, published in
1948. it was highly acclaimed by critics and won an
MGM contest which netted Lockridge nWej than
$122,000. The day before his book reabhed the
number one position on the New Yotjk Herald
Tribune's bestseller list, Lockridge killed himself by
sitting in a running car in a closed garage. j
Tom Heaaen (1920-1949) also earned instant
with the publication of Mister Roberts
Heaaen co-authored the Dlav of the same name
at the time of his bathtub drowning (he had
overdose of barbiturates), he was earning
week from the book and the play, whidh
smash hit on Broadway.
lodd peterseq
j1946.
, and,
taken an
$11,1000 a
was a
I vv wWi
I
111 lifters
Why did two successful and promising wi
riters take
to be
is
he iwriter
smothered in a
their own lives when they apparently had much
happy about and look forward to? Leggett says that
both Lockridge and Heggen were unable to! write
after their first efforts had succeeded and he blames
this on the ohenomenon he calls the ."bitch
goddess.'
The bitch goddess, Leggett says,
spoiled by success, his need to
surfeit of reward." - 1
Of course, the two authors had problems other
than success. Both, thouah surrounded by people,
were lonely men, as writers tend to be. Both were
terrifically egotistical, which a successful writer! must
be. Heggen was an alcoholic and depfended on
barbiturates to get him through the long days and
the even longer nights. Though Lockridge drank little
and used no drugs, he was plagued by worses about
how his family would react to his book, which was
based on the history of his ancestors' exploits In
Indiana. j
No one will ever know exactly why Lockridge and
Heggen did what they did, but Leggett explains their
lives as best he can, and for anyone interested in
writing or writers, Ross and Tom will prove to ibe an
engaging, though depressing book. j
Leggett comes closest to explaining the sqicides
in the introduction: "Perhaps success ha j brought
them to some promontory from which they coujd see
the whole of their path and from there they hadimade
this appalling comment about it." j
Some writers struggle all, their live 5 tij) get
published. They survive endless nights of doubt,
guilt and depression. While they suffer greatly,) most
endure. But, as the examples of Ross Lockridge and
Tom Heaaen Drove, when a writer achieves, the
surrpss he has alwavs dreamed about, ha must not
success syndrome for his sweet success will then be
cruelly soured.
i
Shearina Quintet will perform foi
- '
Community Concert members
By David Ware
A master of modern jazz will appear
this evening at Pershing Auditorium at 8
p.m. when the George Shearing Quintet
performs for members of the Lincoln
Community Concert Assoc. The Quintet
features the world-famous pianist ac
companied by four musicians on guitar,
string bass, drums and vibraphone.
, Shearing was born blind in London 55
years ago and began supporting his
parents while still a teenager. Recogniz
ing early the need for a distinctive
musical trademark, he developed his
singular style, utilizing chords in place
of single notes to carry the melodic line
in 1949, with a newly-formed quintet,
ho recorded "September in the Ram,
which sold more than 900,000 copies, a
remarkable sales record for that time.
Looking back on the time of his major
Wednesday, September 25, 1974
3
success. Shearina said - in a I recent
interview. "Our style was accidental,
prompted by the desire to Iplay some
good music. .After the initial'accident of
the quintetand I realized what a
popular accident it could beebme I did
everything I could to nurture it."
The result of Shearing's "Nurturing"
has been the popularization . of the
"Shearing Sound," accompanied by
accolades from critics the world over, as
well as by gratifying record1 sales
fiqures. j j
Shearing devotes his summers to
the teaching of jazz techniques and
arrangement at the Univers ty of Utah
jazz workshop and at the Chautauqua
Institution in. Chautauqua, NjY j
The concert is open exclusively to
holders of valid Lincoln Community
Concert ASSOC. meinuerwiijj uaru.
' ,. Serving Steaks. Pr ime Rib and
i P" : Sandwiches nightly. .Thursday
, y f ' " " night special on Prime Rib
q I large cut $3.95 small cut $2.25
upstairs enjoy excellent cocktails, wines or a
j beer in a quiet relaxed atmosphere.
STOP in for lunch or dinner Enjoy our Sangria!
1 DRINK
This
and DANCE to live entertainment.
week enjoy
in the Dragons Den
open 1 1 a.m. -1 a.m. 1023 'O'
1 i ' tM vr
; A( '
j ' i
(Stuartj
SHOWS AT I JO 3 30
(.) in
FVOU LIKED I
Mill
AS MON'X;- BI.A?l',0 '-.ADDIES
YOUIL iCVf h'i' AS W.i.ff BILLY IN
THI A i l'JH-' BOGGS
It? itr STfc-.ir" n tj it rJ F' r. r, A
SElE tSLlSMli El via y it
v AN AMERICAN COMEDY m
cot Ol
. DftUXf
:fifih RiiJuflv Sc-oll M;K'Kcitic Uillic ! Sms;iii Dcnbof
f r A 1 1 IW JS)
iii itikt mnirrn
plus special guest il,LVin DnilUf
IN CONCERT Thursday Oct. 3rd 8 p.m. at
Pershing Auditorium.
Tickets $5.00 in Advance and $0 00 at the door.
Tickets available at the Union South' desk, Dirt
Cheap, Brandies. Miller & Paine, The Daisy, and
ershinq Box office. '
tin
Documentary
ritmo
; . ., -
1 ! 'A ,
( l1
3t I j-'v
J W. I 1 Si
' J J AM.' I -H.
ANAISNIN OBSERVED
A fiirn portrait of a woman as artist Directed
by Robert Snyder plus a short feature
ANTON CHEKHOV: A WRITER'S
LIFE ; Narrated by Wallach
Today at 3, 7,9 p.m.
Admission $1.25
Sheldon Art Gallery 12th&'R'St.
page 13
