James Woodress (1916–2011)

Booth Tarkington (1869- 1945) was one of the most popular writers of American fiction in the first decades of the 20th century. The winner of two Pulitzer Prizes (for "Alice Adams" and "The Magnificent Ambersons"), he chronicled through his novels the great changes the Midwestern US underwent during those decades, under the influences of urbanization and industrialization. During his long career, Tarkington published 41 volumes of fiction, dozens of short stories, and several plays. He was a best- selling author; within his lifetime, his works had sold more than 5 million copies excluding paperbacks.

Woodress' book is an excellent biography of the author in the traditional vein. He recounts the major episodes of Tarkington's life, integrating with them the author's literary efforts and contributions. The biography is well- researched and scholarly, being based on extensive collections of papers and correspondence at Princeton and other major universities. I very much enjoyed learning ways in which Tarkington's life was reflected in his work. I especially appreciated the care Woodress with his subject matter. Unlike many a modern biography, this one does not wallow in salacious detail (not that there was any material for such a diversion), nor does it play with amateur psychology or attempt to find autobiographical parallels with each of his literary plots and characters. Granted, the biography reflects the political atmosphere of when it was written (1954), and on a few occasions, Woodress speaks approvingly of Tarkington's political views. Likewise, he does not make explicit or criticize Tarkington's now- dated dealings with race, class, and gender, the triumvirate of modern criticism in the academy.

The main attraction this biography holds is in providing a deeper understanding of the man behind the work. I would strongly recommend it to anyone interested in the famous author Booth Tarkington, or in American fiction in the first decades of the 20th century.… (meer)

This book by James Woodress was the first major biography written about Willa Cather and was the standard Cather biography for many years--and frankly, even though many others have been written since, it may still be. All Cather scholars are indebted to Woodress for this comprehensive, meticulously researched biography. Cather was very fortunate in her biographer; Woodress's book did much to further her reputation in the scholarly community. Cather has become somewhat of a cottage industry with the large group of Cather scholars; thanks to them, all of her works are in print and are taught at all the major universities. Woodress's biography had a lot to do with that.… (meer)

An entertaining read about the life of one of the first "Americans in Paris." Barlow witnessed the French Revolution first hand and profited handsomely from it. Land speculator, author of political essays and poems, a friend to Jefferson, Volney and Robert Fulton, inventor of the world's first operational steamboat, submarine and underwater mine. Brief but accurate coverage of the Jefferson-Barlow translation issue in Chapter IX. Long coverage of the "ménage à trois" between Barlow, his wife and Fulton. Barlow was Ambassador to France from 1811-12. He died in the snows of Poland while attempting to reach Bonaparte during the latter's retreat from Moscow.

Here's an internet link to an article on the Jefferson-Barlow translation issue: http://www.jstor.org/pss/2737688… (meer)