With this help of her father's diaries and journals, Susan Cheever is able to put together a personal and detailed biography of her father, famous author John Cheever. Unlike third party (clearly outsider) biographies Susan is able to insert her own recollections and feelings into the memoir. As a biographer writing about a loved one it is tempting to gloss over the not so pretty aspects of one's life but Susan tackles the tough material with grace. She does not shirk from her father's early failures as a writer not does she make excuses for his volatile marriage and heavy drinking. What she presents is a snapshot of society and her father's successes and failures in it. ( )

This is a fine biography/autobiography of the noted novelist by his noted novelist daughter. The elder Cheever was a fascinating person whose difficult encounter with life eventually did bring him a semblance of both fame and fortune, but not without its price. A well written saga of an interesting subject.

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