H. Eugene and Lillian Youngs Lehman Series

The Good Child's River

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For the last eight years of his life, Thomas Wolfe worked periodically on a series of chapters that were part of a huge work-in-progress. The work was based loosely on the early life of New York stage and costume designer Aline Bernstein, with whom Wolfe was engaged in a tempestuous love affair for eleven years. In her introduction, Suzanne Stutman points out that publication of this novel should finally lay to rest the myth that Wolfe could write only about himself. Although some sections of this work were heavily edited and published after Wolfe's death, The Good Child's River , as Wolfe wrote it, was not published until 1991 and is now available in paperback for the first time.
    Genres

332 pages, Paperback

First published October 1,1991

This edition

Format
332 pages, Paperback
Published
February 25, 1994 by Univ of North Carolina Pr
ISBN
9780807844571
ASIN
0807844578
Language
English

About the author

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People best know American writer Thomas Clayton Wolfe for his autobiographical novels, including Look Homeward, Angel (1929) and the posthumously published You Can't Go Home Again (1940).

Wolfe wrote four lengthy novels and many short stories, dramatic works and novellas. He mixed highly original, poetic, rhapsodic, and impressionistic prose with autobiographical writing. Wolfe wrote and published books that vividly reflect on American culture and the mores, filtered through his sensitive, sophisticated and hyper-analytical perspective. People widely knew him during his own lifetime.

Wolfe inspired the works of many other authors, including Betty Smith with A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Robert Morgan with Gap Creek; Pat Conroy, author of Prince of Tides, said, "My writing career began the instant I finished Look Homeward, Angel." Jack Kerouac idolized Wolfe. Wolfe influenced Ray Bradbury, who included Wolfe as a character in his books.

(from Wikipedia)


Community Reviews

Rating(3.5 / 5.0, 2 votes)
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2 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
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Definitely read Wolfe's famous novels and short stories before getting around to this. However, The Good Child's River (I bet he would have changed that title had he finished writing the book) is truly exceptional and a bit different than his usual subject matter.


The protagonist, Esther Jack, based on his girlfriend, Aline Bernstein, is familiar as the love interest in Wolfe's later works. She is a complex and fascinating character.


Esther's father, a theater actor, who goes by two different names in The Good Child's River, is one of Wolfe's most ingenious creations. His dual identities add an element of mystery and depth to the story.


Had Wolfe finished this book before his untimely demise, it would have likely been a knockout. It has the potential to be a masterpiece,展现ing Wolfe's unique writing style and his ability to create vivid and memorable characters.

July 15,2025
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Wolfe has indeed faced a certain degree of criticism regarding his portrayal of race and gender issues.

In this particular book, if one is anticipating some form of redemption simply because of the female point of view, it is likely that they will be disappointed.

There is also some repetition of themes that Wolfe has explored in his previous works.

Perhaps this book is best suited to be read only by the fans of his work.

They are more likely to understand and appreciate his unique style and the way he approaches these complex topics.

However, for those who are not already familiar with Wolfe's work or who have concerns about his handling of race and gender, this book may not be the best introduction.

It is important to approach his work with an open mind and a critical eye, and to consider the context in which it was written.

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