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Where I Live: Selected Essays
Tennessee Williams' witty, engaging, and elegant essays are now available in a revised and much expanded edition. For most of his Broadway plays Tennessee Williams composed an essay, most often for The New York Times , to be published just prior to opening―something to whet the theatergoers’ appetites and to get the critics thinking. Many of these were collected in the 1978 volume Where I Live , which is now expanded by noted Williams scholar John S. Bak to include all of Williams’ theater essays, biographical pieces, introductions and reviews. This volume also includes a few occasional pieces, program notes, and a discreet selection of juvenilia such as his 1927 essay published in Smart Set , which answers the question “Can a good wife be a good sport?” Wonderful and candid stories abound in these essays―from erudite observations on the theater to veneration for great actresses. In “Five Fiery Ladies” Williams describes his fascinated, deep appreciation of Vivien Leigh, Geraldine Page, Anna Magnani, Katharine Hepburn, and Elizabeth Taylor, all of whom created roles in stage or film versions of his plays. There are two tributes to his great friend Carson McCullers; reviews of Cocteau’s film Orpheus and of two novels by Paul Bowles; a portrait of Williams’ longtime agent Audrey Wood; a salute to Tallulah Bankhead; a political statement from 1972, “We Are Dissenters Now”; some hilarious stories in response to Elia Kazan’s frequent admonition, “Tennessee, Never Talk to An Actress”; and Williams’ most moving and astute autobiographical essay, “The Man in the Overstuffed Chair.” Theater critic and essayist John Lahr has provided a terrific foreword which sheds further light on Tennessee Williams’ writing process, always fueled by Williams’ self-deprecating humor and his empathy for life’s nonconformists.
- GenresEssaysNonfiction
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1978
5 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
About the author
Tennessee Williams
754 books3,698 followersThomas 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.
Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, after years of obscurity, at age 33 he became famous with the success of The Glass Menagerie (1944) in New York City. This play closely reflected his own unhappy family background. It was the first of a string of successes, including A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955), Sweet Bird of Youth (1959), and The Night of the Iguana (1961). With his later work, he attempted a new style that did not appeal to audiences. His drama A Streetcar Named Desire is often numbered on short lists of the finest American plays of the 20th century, alongside Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.
Much of Williams' most acclaimed work has been adapted for the cinema. He also wrote short stories, poetry, essays and a volume of memoirs. In 1979, four years before his death, Williams was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
From Wikipedia
Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, after years of obscurity, at age 33 he became famous with the success of The Glass Menagerie (1944) in New York City. This play closely reflected his own unhappy family background. It was the first of a string of successes, including A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1955), Sweet Bird of Youth (1959), and The Night of the Iguana (1961). With his later work, he attempted a new style that did not appeal to audiences. His drama A Streetcar Named Desire is often numbered on short lists of the finest American plays of the 20th century, alongside Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey into Night and Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.
Much of Williams' most acclaimed work has been adapted for the cinema. He also wrote short stories, poetry, essays and a volume of memoirs. In 1979, four years before his death, Williams was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
From Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 1, 2019
Each year I go on a t w kick. I will read some of his plays again, watch movies of the plays. I enjoyed his tales of the creation of some of his plays and his humorous comments.
May 1, 2015
Reasons this writer inspires me, compiled as quotes:
"...nothing is more precious to anybody than the emotional record of his youth, and you will find the trail of my sleeve-worn heart..." , on Orpheus Descending
"I'm not sentimental about writers. But I'm inclined to think that most writers, and most other artists, too, are primarily motivated in their desperate vocation by a desire to find and to separate truth from the complex of lies and evasions they live in, and I think that this impulse is what makes their work not so much a profession as a vocation, a true 'calling.'"
"If the writing is honest it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it. It isn't so much the mirror as it is the distillation, the essence, of what is strongest and purest in his nature, whether that be gentleness or anger, serenity or torment, light or dark. This makes it deeper than the surface likeness of a mirror and much more truthful."
"Deny the art of our time its only spring, which is the true expression of its passionately personal problems and their purification through work, and you will be left with a soil of such aridity that not even a cactus plant could flower upon it."
"The first work of creative art was probably a caveman's drawing on the wall of his cave, and it wasn't done for fame or money or even the oh's and ah's of anyone but himself. I think he just picked up a sharp bit of stone and drew on the rock wall of his cave, the pure one-dimensional record in celebration of a bit of personal experience that had deeply moved him. I suspect that it was the portrait of a dangerous wild beast he had encountered that day in the forest primeval—a beast that he had met in mortal combat and that he obviously had overcome and had, very likely, hauled home for supper. In fact, I suspect that maybe at the back of his cave his wife was broiling some good cuts of meat off the carcass, and it was by the light of her kitchen fire that this aboriginal artist carved with stone onto stone the record, the memorial of the cover, for the first of all times on earth, the impulse of an artist to translate experience into something permanent...I know he must have had pride in his victory over his slain adversary, but I also know that he must have been paying it homage when he carved its portrait on the cave wall by the light of the fire that prepared its flesh for supper."
"You can retire from a business but not from art; you can't put your talent away like a key to a house where you don't live anymore."
Tennessee Williams has been, stayed, and written in many of the places that I have visited, and he awakens this charm of cities I once explored. Williams slates the essence of being a writer of unfortunate fame, and still spending all his years, in solitude on a remote Caribbean island if need be, or in the company of solitary writers he could confide in, Carson McCullers, or revere—Hart Crane—to get to what was most true.
Put best in an instinctive response given once by his mother about her son's writing:
"'Mrs. Williams, why does your son waste his talents on such morbid subjects?'"
Mother spoke as quickly as if she'd always known the answer. 'My son,' she said, 'writes about life'—and she said it with the conviction of a rebel yell."
Homage to Key West is a gem.
"...nothing is more precious to anybody than the emotional record of his youth, and you will find the trail of my sleeve-worn heart..." , on Orpheus Descending
"I'm not sentimental about writers. But I'm inclined to think that most writers, and most other artists, too, are primarily motivated in their desperate vocation by a desire to find and to separate truth from the complex of lies and evasions they live in, and I think that this impulse is what makes their work not so much a profession as a vocation, a true 'calling.'"
"If the writing is honest it cannot be separated from the man who wrote it. It isn't so much the mirror as it is the distillation, the essence, of what is strongest and purest in his nature, whether that be gentleness or anger, serenity or torment, light or dark. This makes it deeper than the surface likeness of a mirror and much more truthful."
"Deny the art of our time its only spring, which is the true expression of its passionately personal problems and their purification through work, and you will be left with a soil of such aridity that not even a cactus plant could flower upon it."
"The first work of creative art was probably a caveman's drawing on the wall of his cave, and it wasn't done for fame or money or even the oh's and ah's of anyone but himself. I think he just picked up a sharp bit of stone and drew on the rock wall of his cave, the pure one-dimensional record in celebration of a bit of personal experience that had deeply moved him. I suspect that it was the portrait of a dangerous wild beast he had encountered that day in the forest primeval—a beast that he had met in mortal combat and that he obviously had overcome and had, very likely, hauled home for supper. In fact, I suspect that maybe at the back of his cave his wife was broiling some good cuts of meat off the carcass, and it was by the light of her kitchen fire that this aboriginal artist carved with stone onto stone the record, the memorial of the cover, for the first of all times on earth, the impulse of an artist to translate experience into something permanent...I know he must have had pride in his victory over his slain adversary, but I also know that he must have been paying it homage when he carved its portrait on the cave wall by the light of the fire that prepared its flesh for supper."
"You can retire from a business but not from art; you can't put your talent away like a key to a house where you don't live anymore."
Tennessee Williams has been, stayed, and written in many of the places that I have visited, and he awakens this charm of cities I once explored. Williams slates the essence of being a writer of unfortunate fame, and still spending all his years, in solitude on a remote Caribbean island if need be, or in the company of solitary writers he could confide in, Carson McCullers, or revere—Hart Crane—to get to what was most true.
Put best in an instinctive response given once by his mother about her son's writing:
"'Mrs. Williams, why does your son waste his talents on such morbid subjects?'"
Mother spoke as quickly as if she'd always known the answer. 'My son,' she said, 'writes about life'—and she said it with the conviction of a rebel yell."
Homage to Key West is a gem.
July 13, 2012
If you're a devotee of Tennessee Williams, I consider this a must read. And the intro by John Bak is worth purchasing this book. It's not only insightful, it's expertly written with the right nuance of understanding and compassion for this literary genius. Peek into what has the feel of Williams' personal journal. Insight into his relationship with his father as well as his candid views about himself as a writer and foray into Hollywood and Broadway. I didn't absolutely adore it because I couldn't help but compare it with his finished plays, which are so expertly and hauntingly written. This isn't fair at all of me, but I guess it's a compliment. Regardless of what I think, it's worth adding this to your library.
April 17, 2009
Superb collection of essays by a guy who can't do anything wrong on the blank page. Most if not all the essays deal with the theater world or about his work in the theater. Some of it is personal and all of it is enjoyable.
Tennessee Williams must have been a great figure to hang out with. Since the essays start from the early years to the later, you can see the drugs kicking & drinks kicking in. But even with that he never loses his wit and style. Excellent book.
Tennessee Williams must have been a great figure to hang out with. Since the essays start from the early years to the later, you can see the drugs kicking & drinks kicking in. But even with that he never loses his wit and style. Excellent book.
August 19, 2012
Love love love this. I love his essays as much as I love his plays. I love reading his passions. I loved reading his anger at the reception of his later plays. I loved reading his youthful essays when he was in his twenties, his criticisms of Shaw and Chekhov and Ibsen. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews