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39th out of 90 books
—
46 voters
The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone
Published in 1950, his first novel was acclaimed by Gore Vidal as "Splendidly written, precise, short, complete and fine."
It is the story of a wealthy, fiftyish American widow, recently a famous stage beauty, but now "drifting." The novel opens soon after her husband's death and her retirement from the theatre, as Mrs. Stone tries to adjust to her aimless new life in Rome....more
It is the story of a wealthy, fiftyish American widow, recently a famous stage beauty, but now "drifting." The novel opens soon after her husband's death and her retirement from the theatre, as Mrs. Stone tries to adjust to her aimless new life in Rome....more
Paperback, 112 pages
Published
September 17th 1993
by New Directions
(first published January 1st 1960)
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Tennessee Williams
The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone
Vintage Classics, Paperback, 1999.
8vo. 116 pp.
First published, 1950.
Contents
A Cold Sun
Island, Island!
The Drift
========================================================
I am sorry Tennessee Williams didn't write more novellas like this one. It has a kind of perfection he seldom achieved in his short stories. The latter are often marred by verbosity, obscurity or plotlessness; and sometimes the poetry in prose doesn't fit very well. But here, for once,...more
The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone
Vintage Classics, Paperback, 1999.
8vo. 116 pp.
First published, 1950.
Contents
A Cold Sun
Island, Island!
The Drift
========================================================
I am sorry Tennessee Williams didn't write more novellas like this one. It has a kind of perfection he seldom achieved in his short stories. The latter are often marred by verbosity, obscurity or plotlessness; and sometimes the poetry in prose doesn't fit very well. But here, for once,...more
Jul 11, 2007
Sara
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who enjoyed Tennessee Williams' plays
Although Tennesee Williams is most well-known as a playwrite, this novella was the first thing I read by Williams. An aging actress has an "All About Eve-esque" crisis when she retires from the stage. She travels to Roma and deals with her loss of youth, beauty, and career. Mrs. Stone has an affair with a young Italian hottie who uses Mrs. Stone as his sugar mama. I also loved the movie version of this book starring Helen Mirren and Anne Bancroft.
Mr. Williams at his best. The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone is the story of Karen Stone, and aging American stage actress who goes into exile in Rome after the death of her husband. While in Rome she meets Paolo, a young and handsome Italian gigolo and she, regretably, falls for him in a big way. Once she realizes that Paolo is lying to get more money out of her, Mrs. Stone cuts off the cash flow, and Paolo cuts off the "love." The theme is as old as time, and it was beautifully captured in this li...more
Short, easy to read, but I love the notion of "The Drift" that he stresses... I remember the summer I read this I really identified with that notion, feeling the tide ebb and flow and push me in these different directions the result of which I really had no idea. Good themes of youth vs. age and beauty: external or internal peace. Love Tennessee.
I think Williams was not just a good playwright, but a good novelist as well. As expected, precise descripions of moods. But sometimes I wonder, if he - having been gay - really could understand women. I was disappointed that this novel was so short, the end begged for a lot more explanation and didn't seem to be very consequential.
A wonderful story filled with aviary metaphor about an aging actress fled to Rome. Drifting toward forgetting in a cloudy chiffon of American abroad make-believe . Her apartment overlooks the Spanish steps. Below walks and wags masculine sex...
Feb 15, 2009
Everett Darling
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
The Gays, aging ones.
Shelves:
2009
Morals – Having sex with salacious, impoverished, macho hunks stops time and cures loneliness. Paying for love is degrading. I'm half in agreement, and totally in love with Tennessee Williams. The unique talent who hasn't written a thing I haven't liked.
Just a little book but beautifully written. Williams captures the angst of Mrs Stone as she deals with widowhood, her retirement from the stage and a much younger Italian lover. Really worth reading.
I've never read Tennessee Williams before, but I think I will now.
This novella was fantastic and I loved it a lot.
From the Jungian psychology to just the idea of aging, I enjoyed the characters and I loved the puzzle that was left for me to piece together.
In fact, I can't wait to read it again, just for kicks.
This novella was fantastic and I loved it a lot.
From the Jungian psychology to just the idea of aging, I enjoyed the characters and I loved the puzzle that was left for me to piece together.
In fact, I can't wait to read it again, just for kicks.
Wonderful, the delusions of an aging famous person who has suddenly discovered the loss of her beauty and the fact that she was never talented.
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Kind of haunting, kind of sad, kind of sexy with a truly great ending that will leave you wondering what happened next.
Mar 16, 2013
Judith Happeny
added it
Again, I saw the film and wanted to read the book. T.W. really was a master of literature....
I love stories of women falling from eminence and beauty. Is that depressing?
Interesting, feverish, and hallucinatory writing
What can you say about Tennessee Williams. The writer's writer. But am I a writer's reader? I have to admit this small novel was a bit of work for me. But what an experience to look into his mind.
My favorite Tennessee Williams. Highly under-appreciated. I love it.
30.1A Spring in title
micheton et pizza
May 12, 2013
Alicja Mielczarek
marked it as to-read
May 12, 2013
Constanza Denisse Baeza
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May 12, 2013
Bella Macdiarmid
marked it as to-read
May 05, 2013
Rachel Gatwood
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Thomas Lanier Williams III, better known by the nickname Tennessee Williams, was a major American playwright of the twentieth century who received many of the top theatrical awards for his work. He moved to New Orleans in 1939 and changed his name to "Tennessee," the state of his father's birth. He won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for A Streetcar Named Desire in 1948 and for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof...more
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