How it Was: A Memoir of Samuel Beckett

by Anne Atik, Avigdor Arikha (Illustrator)

2006 marks the 100th anniversary of Samuel Beckett’s birth. To most, he was a brilliant artist who shied away from celebrity and photographers, but to the distinguished painter Avigdor Arikha and his wife, author Anne Atik, Beckett was the close friend with whom they shared countless drinks, meals, and rich conversations. As intimates and artists, they interacted with him several times a week for over four decades. In 1970, Atik began jotting down notes on her relationship with Beckett. “After fifteen years of memorable conversations with Beckett,” she writes, “I realized that I could not depend on my memory. The unforgettable was becoming the irretrievable.” The three could just as easily discuss their personal lives as ponder the state of art. This book documents not only Beckett’s passions, but is filled with drawings by Arikha, snapshots, and letters. There are also drafts in Beckett’s own handwriting that would eventually become part of his formidable canon, covering the breadth of his knowledge of literature by detailing his opinions and influences. An intimate collage, How It Was offers a unique insider’s portrait and gives the reader a chance to sit down with one of the great literary masters of the twentieth century.

Genres: Memoir

140 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Stephen Orr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to get some sense of Beckett's life in Paris, friends, food, books, late nights, those he liked, those he didn't, life with his nephew, his enormous generosity, why he was 'damned to fame'. This and the Knowlson biography (and others) uncover the non-public artist. Beckett seemed more at home working in his garden. Which makes sense. The collection of letters, notes, random memories, philosophical musings, writerly references and quotes and everything that adds up to something but, as with everything Beckett, comes to nothing (well, something that's nothing). Nice, also, to see Beckett's relationship with Avigdor Arika and Anne Atik and their daughters. Such intelligent but modest, authentic people thriving on each other's company.

[Michael Byron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book, I knew almost nothing of Samuel Beckett as a person. I thought of him as an austere intellectual figure. This short book humanizes him to an extent. It also gives a glimpse into the lives of people who discuss art, music, literature on a daily basis, as an integral part of their lives.

[Kiof · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most interesting parts are when Beckett talks about Samuel Johnson, Shakespeare, Keats and gives book recommendations. His love of Johnson is total and it made me smile reading about it. I think the discussion of Beckett as a saint is pretty ridiculous. He was obviously a kind person, let's leave it at that. But the fact that him and Welles didn't talk (the Johnson of the 20th century) is a shame and a pity.

[Gini · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by some one close to Beckett and who cared about him. Her book reveals the private person that Beckett was with his friends.
I've discovered this sort of book helps me understand an author much better than the usual biographical pieces. And that in turn adds much more to reading of the author's works.

[Leif · Rating 4 out of 5]

Atik is clear and bright in her brief sketches; her portrayal of Sam Beckett lucid, sympathetic, and intimate. Each letter mentioned is reproduced in facsimile and other attending pictures give imagistic persuasion to the story described of a kind and generous man.

[Sigrun Hodne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very sympathetic presentation of Beckett, but unfortunately not a well written book. More a kind of homage from a friend.