Writing Dangerously: Mary McCarthy And Her World

by Carol Brightman

Drawing on a series of interviews with McCarthy, as well as a collection of her letters and papers, this biography provides new insights into the life and innovative work of one of America's premier authors

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, American, History, Female Authors

516 pages, Paperback

First published October 27, 1992

Reviews

[Jeff Bursey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and written with some style. However, Brightman moves from one year to several years ahead many times, for extended passages, disrupting the flow and also bringing in material that might not be necessary to learn about McCarthy. She doesn't provide as many details as other biographers do on print run numbers, the date of publication of books, contract specifics, and family members as could have been provided. Knowing McCarthy undoubtedly helps, as this somewhat minor writer, or a writer embedded in historical aspic, would be almost totally eclipsed by now compared to her heyday in the 1960s, and this account of her life would not be as thorough, without personal friendship.

Recommended? It depends if you already think McCarthy worth reading. This book makes the case for some re-evaluation, but not a wholesale one, and Brightman clearly states that McCarthy had a lack of imagination that meant her fiction was often middling.

[Susan Emmet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such fine research and "real" knowledge of Mary McCarthy,especially in her later years. Carol Brightman does it right and tight.
So much covered in 700 pages - literary, artistic, cultural, political and personal history, in America, Europe and Vietnam.
The sadness of a childhood that shadowed her, her training at Vassar, her travels and four husbands and son and stepchildren, her friendships (especially with Hannah Arendt) and struggles, her candor and dark shadows, her will to do good work and to learn - so much here captured.
Such a mix of intelligence, intransigence, promiscuity of willing sorts, desire, love, hatred and the clear pursuit of doing what she did on her own terms, as best she could.
Writing was her religion.
May her work continue to be read.
This is a remarkable biography.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This summer is turning out to be the Summer of McCarthy for me; I cannot get enough of Mary McCarthy's writing, and also reading about her life. She fascinates me; and this biography feeds into that fascination entirely. Thorough, entertaining, informed: it is well-researched and scholarly, and, at the same time, a page-turner. How could it not be, when the subject is the notorious McCarthy, who had countless lovers, famous spats with her literary contemporaries (cf. Lillian Hellman, Simone de Beauvoir, etc.)? A great supplement to McCarthy's fiction and essays, in which I've also been immersed...

[JerryDeanHalleck · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting person. Book is mediocre. Too bad.

[M. Sarki · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was nothing remotely fascinating to read in this severely detailed and boring biography. Supposing there are real fans of Mary McCarthy out there who would appreciate this work. They would seem to be the best audience than one who merely wanted to like her, desired to learn some interesting dirt about her, and thought he might learn a thing or two about writing dangerously. Cannot think of anything I read that provided the reaching of these goals. Disappointed, which seems to be the current trend for me. Sort of involved in a temporary bad run with my reading.

[Stephen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the finest biography I have read, in part because Mary McCarthy left such a multi-faceted trail, often many sources, “fiction” and “non-fiction” illuminating the same inner and outer ego of a great writer. All the more interesting because of her deep friendship with my favorite intellect, Hannah Arendt.

[Jack Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost passed on this book picked it up at my library book sale.Intially didn't know who
Mary McCarthy was,I do now.What a suprisingly entertaining look into the life of one of America's
least known Literary Critics and Author.

[l · Rating 4 out of 5]

She was our most brilliant literary critic because she was uncorrupted by compassion - Gore Vidal

The punishment, for thus she saw her friend's silence, was somehow mysteriously, arcanely, related to her eternal self: the bars of the cell were, so to speak, her own ribs.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

A book group read that I found pedantic, boring. Gives no sense of Mary McCarthy. Read The Group instead!

[Leon Perlman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reads rating 80