Grace Paley's Life Stories: A LITERARY BIOGRAPHY - Hardcover

Arcana, Judith

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9780252019456: Grace Paley's Life Stories: A LITERARY BIOGRAPHY

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0252019458 ISBN 13: 9780252019456

Publisher: University of Illinois Press, 1992

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Is Faith Darwin Asbury really Grace Paley? Or is it coincidental that the personal history, politics, and relationships of the fictional Asbury seem to mirror those of the well-known author? And do other characters in Paley's stories represent individuals she has known, in scenes and entire episodes she has experienced?
A writer who translates her life into art not only "saves" her own life, according to Paley, but offers others the revelation of its meaning. That idea is at the core of Judith Arcana's biographical reading of this strongly autobiographical writer. Grace Paley's Life Stories interweaves details about Paley with critical discussions of her works, examining her as a woman, mother, activist, and Jew. Arcana visited and interviewed Paley at her homes in Vermont and New York over a period of several years. She also interviewed Paley's family, friends, and colleagues. Such extensive research is unmatched in Paley scholarship; Arcana's focus on the political crucible of Paley's consciousness is rare in contemporary literary criticism.

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From Library Journal:

Well aware of the dangers involved in relating literature and life and in writing about a living public figure, Arcana presents an interesting portrait of contemporary writer and activist Grace Paley. Arcana does a superb job of interrelating and integrating Paley's life and work, paralleling characters and dialog with life events and ways of thinking. She gives the reader a real sense of Paley's spirit, personality, and development as an individual and as a writer. This work is based on Arcana's conversations with Paley, her friends, and her family, as well as upon knowledge of her writings. Arcana admits that she omitted certain information and insights at the request of various individuals and at her own discretion. Still, this is a well-written, enjoyable interpretive biography. Highly recommended for academic and public libraries.
- Jeris Cassel, Rutgers Univ. Libs., New Brunswick, N.J.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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