The Secrets of Grown-Ups

by Vera Caspary

Vera Caspary, the celebrated author of Laura, tells her own story in this captivating autobiography. With a career that spanned from the 1920s through 1970s, one that produced over twenty novels, in addition to her many credits for film and theater, Caspary centered her life around a passion for writing. From her early experiences at an advertisement agency-where she developed a correspondence school and invented its "famed" instructor-to the struggles of being gray-listed in the McCarthy Era, Caspary constantly found a way to turn her creative needs into viable work. Caspary recalls the rest of a full life, too, including her flirtation with communism, travels across Europe, and a marriage. Caspary's skillful writing makes her incredible depictions of people, and the times in which they lived, jump off the page."

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Memoir

287 pages, Hardcover

First published August 15, 2013

About the author

Vera Caspary, an acclaimed American writer of novels, plays, short stories and screenplays, was born in Chicago in 1899. Her writing talent shone from a young age and, following the death of her father, her work became the primary source of income for Caspary and her mother. A young woman when the Great Depression hit America, Caspary soon developed a keen interest in Socialist causes, and joined the Communist Party under a pseudonym. Although she soon left the party after becoming disillusioned, Caspary's leftist leanings would later come back to haunt her when she was greylisted from Hollywood in the 1950s for Communist sympathies. Caspary spent this period of self-described 'purgatory' alternately in Europe and America with her husband, Igee Goldsmith, in order to find work. After Igee's death in 1964, Caspary returned permanently to New York, where she wrote a further eight titles. Vera Caspary died in 1987 and is survived by a literary legacy of strong independent female characters.

Reviews

[Jeanette (Ms. Feisty) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for Nonfiction November.

[Jim Dooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe that I waited so long to read this book! It's excellent!

I have enjoyed the Vera Caspary books that I've read. She's a wonderful writer creating vivid characters and keeping a brisk pace presented with a witty style. Reading her books ... especially EVVIE and LAURA ... is like enjoying a sinful box of rich chocolate truffles.

But, this is an auto-biography, not a work of fiction. She didn't disappear like Agatha Christie or murder a family member. I was curious about her insights regarding the writing of her more famous books, but not so interested that I waned to move the book to the top of my reading list.

Well, I was definitely wrong.

Vera Caspary approached her auto-biography much like a novel. She interested me in the people right away, and I definitely wanted to know what happened to them. She also avoided name-dropping although she knew quite a few famous personalities.

No, as she points out, memory is very good at playing tricks. She wanted to know what she could learn from how she lived her life. So, she recounts the most meaningful moments as stories, dwelling deeply on her thoughts and emotions both at the time they occurred and from the distance of decades.

The result is that I feel that I know more about her and the people who were close to her than I could possibly have gleaned from the more usual method of writing about oneself. Best of all, this method allowed me as the Reader to do comparisons of how I thought I would have reacted in the same situations. Also, the Lessons Learned were good items to ponder.

In short, this is a "must read" for fans of Vera Caspary, a "should read" for writers, and an enjoyable read for anyone who wants to learn more about the lifestyles prevalent from the 1920's through the 1950's. She just doesn't just tell you of things that happened ... she takes your arm and leads you along.

Definitely recommended.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is why I love random memoirs. What a great glimpse into a different time, told with candor and humor and heart. Particularly good are the early chapters when Vera is working in advertising, shortly after WWI and into Prohibition. Advertising was just the wild west - there is this story about setting up a mail-order dance class from a fictional ballet master, and I will never forget it!! Less interesting as she is into Hollywood, all the power struggles and ups and downs. Overall, highly recommend.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly great, very funny memoir from a '30s-'50s novelist and Hollywood writer I confess I'd never heard of.

[Herb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very entertaining memoir from one of the most popular writers of the first half of the twentieth century. Best known for "Laura" and "Bedelia."

[Trilby O'Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[Orangereader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love her writing style.