It Starts with Trouble : William Goyen and the Life of Writing

William Goyen was a writer of startling originality and deep artistic commitment whose work attracted an international audience and the praise of such luminaries as Northrop Frye, Truman Capote, Gaston Bachelard, and Joyce Carol Oates. His subject was the land and language of his native East Texas; his desire, to preserve the narrative music through which he came to know his world. Goyen sought to transform the cherished details of his lost boyhood landscape into lasting, mythic forms. Cut off from his native soil and considering himself an orphan, Goyen brought modernist alienation and experimentation to Texas materials. The result was a body of work both sophisticated and handmade--and a voice at once inimitable and unmistakable. It Starts with Trouble is the first complete account of Goyen's life and work. It uncovers the sources of his personal and artistic development, from his early years in Trinity, Texas, through his adolescence and college experience in Houston; his Navy service during World War II; and the subsequent growth of his writing career, which saw the publication of five novels, including The House of Breath, nonfiction works such as A Book of Jesus, several short story collections and plays, and a book of poetry. It explores Goyen's relationships with such legendary figures as Frieda Lawrence, Katherine Anne Porter, Stephen Spender, Anais Nin, and Carson McCullers. No other twentieth-century writer attempted so intimate a connection with his readers, and no other writer of his era worked so passionately to recover the spiritual in an age of disabling irony. Goyen's life and work are a testament to the redemptive power of storytelling and the absolute necessity of narrative art.;Part 1. The house in the bitterweeds. Trinity: 1915-1922 ; Merrill street: 1923-1931 ; Rice institute : 1932-1941 -- part 2. Song of leaving. Ulysses: 1942-1945 ; El prado: 1945-1948 ; Christopher Icarus: 1948-1950 ; The house of Breath: 1950 ; Marvello: 1950-1953 ; A Farther Country: 1954-1956 ; Blood kindred: 1957-1962 -- part 3. The rider at the door. "A New Life": 1962-1964 ; A living Jesus: 1966-1973 ; The restorer: 1974 ; Precious door: 1975-1981 ; The nurseryman: 1976-1982 ; Arcadio: 1983 ; The wound and the bow: 1982-1983. William Goyen Was A Writer Of Startling Originality And Deep Artistic Commitment Whose Work Attracted An International Audience And The Praise Of Such Luminaries As Northrop Frye, Truman Capote, Gaston Bachelard, And Joyce Carol Oates. His Subject Was The Land And Language Of His Native East Texas; His Desire, To Preserve The Narrative Music Through Which He Came To Know His World. Goyen Sought To Transform The Cherished Details Of His Lost Boyhood Landscape Into Lasting, Mythic Forms. Cut Off From His Native Soil And Considering Himself An Orphan, Goyen Brought Modernist Alienation And Experimentation To Texas Materials. The Result Was A Body Of Work Both Sophisticated And Handmade--and A Voice At Once Inimitable And Unmistakable. It Starts With Trouble Is The First Complete Account Of Goyen's Life And Work. It Uncovers The Sources Of His Personal And Artistic Development, From His Early Years In Trinity, Texas, Through His Adolescence And College Experience In Houston; His Navy Service During World War Ii; And The Subsequent Growth Of His Writing Career, Which Saw The Publication Of Five Novels, Including The House Of Breath, Nonfiction Works Such As A Book Of Jesus, Several Short Story Collections And Plays, And A Book Of Poetry. It Explores Goyen's Relationships With Such Legendary Figures As Frieda Lawrence, Katherine Anne Porter, Stephen Spender, Anais Nin, And Carson Mccullers. No Other Twentieth-century Writer Attempted So Intimate A Connection With His Readers, And No Other Writer Of His Era Worked So Passionately To Recover The Spiritual In An Age Of Disabling Irony. Goyen's Life And Work Are A Testament To The Redemptive Power Of Storytelling And The Absolute Necessity Of Narrative Art. List Of Abbreviations -- Introduction -- Prologue : The Drowning -- Part I. The House In The Bitterweeds -- 1. Trinity : 1915-1922 -- 2. Merrill Street : 1923-1931 -- 3. Rice Institute : 1932-1941 -- Part Ii. Song Of Leaving -- 4. Ulysses : 1942-1945 -- 5. El Prado : 1945-1948 -- 6. Christopher Icarus : 1948-1950 -- 7. The House Of Breath : 1950 -- 8. Marvello : 1950-1953 -- 9. A Farther Country : 1954-1956 -- 10. Blood Kindred : 1957-1962 -- Part Iii. The Rider At The Door -- 11. A New Life : 1962-1964 -- 12. A Living Jesus : 1966-1973 -- 13. The Restorer : 1974 -- 14. Precious Door : 1975-1981 -- 15. The Nurseryman : 1976-1982 -- 16. Arcadio : 1983 -- 17. The Wound And The Bow : 1982-1983 -- Acknowledgments -- Notes -- Index. Clark Davis. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 337-357) And Index. William Goyen was a writer of startling originality and deep artistic commitment whose work attracted an international audience and the praise of such luminaries as Northrop Frye, Truman Capote, Gaston Bachelard, and Joyce Carol Oates. His subject was the land and language of his native East Texas; his desire, to preserve the narrative music through which he came to know his world. Goyen sought to transform the cherished details of his lost boyhood landscape into lasting, mythic forms. Cut off from his native soil and considering himself an "orphan," Goyen brought modernist alienation and experimentation to Texas materials. The result was a body of work both sophisticated and handmade—and a voice at once inimitable and unmistakable. It Starts with Trouble is the first complete account of Goyen's life and work. It uncovers the sources of his personal and artistic development, from his early years in Trinity, Texas, through his adolescence and college experience in Houston; his Navy service during World War II; and the subsequent growth of his writing career, which saw the publication of five novels, including The House of Breath , nonfiction works such as A Book of Jesus , several short story collections and plays, and a book of poetry. It explores Goyen's relationships with such legendary figures as Frieda Lawrence, Katherine Anne Porter, Stephen Spender, Anaïs Nin, and Carson McCullers. No other twentieth-century writer attempted so intimate a connection with his readers, and no other writer of his era worked so passionately to recover the spiritual in an age of disabling irony. Goyen's life and work are a testament to the redemptive power of storytelling and the absolute necessity of narrative art. Celebrating a "writer's writer" whose friends and rivals included Katherine Anne Porter, Stephen Spender, and Truman Capote, this definitive biography of William Goyen offers the first complete account of the life and writings of the acclaimed author of T