The Thurber Letters: The Wit, Wisdom and Surprising Life of James Thurber

by James Thurber

Though he died more than forty years ago, James Thurber remains one of America's greatest and most enduring humorists, and his books -- for both adults and children -- remain as popular as ever. In this comprehensive collection of his letters -- the majority of which have never before been published -- we find unsuspected insights into his life and career.

His prodigious body of work -- fables, drawings, comic essays, reportage, short stories, including his famous "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" -- all define Thurber's special and prolific genius. Like most good humorists, he was prone to exaggeration, embellishment, and good-natured self-deprecation. In his letters we find startling revelations about who he really was, and why the prism through which he viewed the world could often be both painfully and delightfully distorting.

For the first time, Thurber's daughter Rosemary has allowed the publication of many of the extremely personal letters he wrote early in his life to the women he was -- usually hopelessly -- in love with, as well as the affectionate and hilarious letters that he wrote to her. In addition, Harrison Kinney, noted Thurber biographer, has located a number of Thurber letters never before published. The Thurber Letters traces Thurber's progress from lovesick college boy to code clerk with the State Department in Paris and reporter for the Columbus Dispatch, through his marriages and love affairs, his special relationship with his daughter, his illustrious and tumultuous years with The New Yorker, his longstanding relationship with E. B. White, his close friendship with Peter De Vries, and his tragic last days. Included in the book are Thurber drawings never before published. His candid comments in these personal letters, whether lighthearted or melancholy, comprise an entertaining, captivating, informal biography -- pure, wonderful Thurber.

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Biography

800 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Thurber was born in Columbus, Ohio to Charles L. Thurber and Mary Agnes (Mame) Fisher Thurber. Both of his parents greatly influenced his work. His father, a sporadically employed clerk and minor politician who dreamed of being a lawyer or an actor, is said to have been the inspiration for the small, timid protagonist typical of many of his stories. Thurber described his mother as a "born comedienne" and "one of the finest comic talents I think I have ever known." She was a practical joker, on one occasion pretending to be crippled and attending a faith healer revival, only to jump up and proclaim herself healed.

Thurber had two brothers, William and Robert. Once, while playing a game of William Tell, his brother William shot James in the eye with an arrow. Because of the lack of medical technology, Thurber lost his eye. This injury would later cause him to be almost entirely blind. During his childhood he was unable to participate in sports and activities because of his injury, and instead developed a creative imagination, which he shared in his writings.

From 1913 to 1918, Thurber attended The Ohio State University, where he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity. He never graduated from the University because his poor eyesight prevented him from taking a mandatory ROTC course. In 1995 he was posthumously awarded a degree.

From 1918 to 1920, at the close of World War I, Thurber worked as a code clerk for the Department of State, first in Washington, D.C. and then at the American Embassy in Paris, France. After this Thurber returned to Columbus, where he began his writing career as a reporter for the Columbus Dispatch from 1921 to 1924. During part of this time, he reviewed current books, films, and plays in a weekly column called "Credos and Curios," a title that later would be given to a posthumous collection of his work. Thurber also returned to Paris in this period, where he wrote for the Chicago Tribune and other newspapers.

In 1925, he moved to Greenwich Village in New York City, getting a job as a reporter for the New York Evening Post. He joined the staff of The New Yorker in 1927 as an editor with the help of his friend and fellow New Yorker contributor, E.B. White. His career as a cartoonist began in 1930 when White found some of Thurber's drawings in a trash can and submitted them for publication. Thurber would contribute both his writings and his drawings to The New Yorker until the 1950s.

Thurber was married twice. In 1922, Thurber married Althea Adams. The marriage was troubled and ended in divorce in May 1935. Adams gave Thurber his only child, his daughter Rosemary. Thurber remarried in June, 1935 to Helen Wismer. His second marriage lasted until he died in 1961, at the age of 66, due to complications from pneumonia, which followed upon a stroke suffered at his home. His last words, aside from the repeated word "God," were "God bless... God damn," according to Helen Thurber.

Reviews

[Daniel Hiland · Rating 4 out of 5]

James Thurber (1894-1961) was fortunate to live in a time when he could rub shoulders with the likes of Robert Benchley, Fred Allen, and E. B. White. He survived two world wars, numerous marriages, failing eyesight, editing jobs and editors, all the while writing and illustrating stories which established him as one of America’s top humorists.

“Letters” is a massive collection of Thurber’s correspondence- a treasure trove for anyone who wants further enlightenment about the man and the times he lived in. It is also a labor of love that required much guessing and proofing, due to much of the writing being the result of dictation, due to the writer’s failing eyesight. But that being said, newcomers to James T. would be better off reading his stories and books first.

Yes, this is an outstanding collection of correspondence stretching from the author’s teenage years all the way up to his last months- but, like any banquet, this collection is best consumed in reasonable portions, when it can be best digested and appreciated.

[Joseph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Collections of letters have always been interesting to me, especially those associated with twentieth century American literature. They capture a time in a way we’re unlikely to see again. These provide an insight into Thurber’s life, as well as his outspoken views on writing, editors, and publishers.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's a vast collection of the correspondence of one of America's great humorists, edited by Harrison Kinney with Thurber's daughter, Rosemary A. Thurber. (It's so vast that it took me a good six months to read, dipping in and out). Encompassing Thurber's life from his twenties to the end of his life and including letters to family, friends, strangers, and fellow writers and New Yorker colleagues, this is a wonderful look into Thurber's life, times, and complex character. It even includes some of his drawings I'd never seen before - I particularly loved the "well-hung newcomer to the nudist camp" drawing. If you're a Thurber fan (and boy, I am), you'll love dipping into this cornucopia.

[Wens Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always fascinating to delve into the mind of another, esp first-hand.

Thurber's life was less idiosyncratic and innocent than his characters. His love affairs through letters, his harsh letters when he disagreed with a policy. At the same time, his kindness in answering letters of aspiring authors. A little less lovable on the whole, but more human.

[Amy Bergethon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the humor of James Thurber. This was free for Kindle so I thought I'd give it a try. A collection of letters to his friends and relatives, it's kind of interesting to a big fan like me, but I still prefer Thurber's intentionally-published (and perhaps more meticulously edited) writings.

[Alethea Gerding · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's certainly not a page-turner, but reading behind-the-scenes New Yorker politics and editing and writing kerfuffles was definitely fascinating.