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Ross And Tom: Two American Tragedies
Here, at last back in print, is the classic dual biography of Ross Lockridge and Thomas Heggen, two authors who achieved sudden fame and fortune and then self-destructed. Ross Lockridge, the author of the spectacularly best-selling Raintree County, and Thomas Heggen, the creator of Mister Roberts, both were thrust in the 1940s into unexpected fame and money. Each was young and inexperienced in the ways of the world. John Leggett explores their lives, their loves, their friendships, and their writing and publishing experiences to discover what ultimately and tragically failed them. Ross and Tom portrays two gifted writers and their final descent into that Fitzgeraldian crack-up where "in the real dark night of the soul it is always three o'clock in the morning."
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
448 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 1974
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 7, 2021
Ross Lockridge, Jr., who wrote Raintree County and Tom Heggens whose Mister Roberts was a best selling book, a play, and movie. Two writers who achieved great success with their first books, only to be overwhelmed by alcohol or depression, and who died young, both by suicide.
Interesting to see how each used the material they'd experienced to create their respective books, and to see their creative process, but far more details than I really cared about. Didn't finish.
Interesting to see how each used the material they'd experienced to create their respective books, and to see their creative process, but far more details than I really cared about. Didn't finish.
May 5, 2016
My intrest in this book was perked by reading about it in a James Michener memoir. "Ross & Tom" was about to American authors, Ross Lockbridge Jr., and Tom Heggen. Lockridge wrote "Raintree County", which I throughly loved, and Heggen wrote "Mister Roberts", which I haven't read at this time.
This dual biography dealt with the lives of the writers and how a bestseller the first go around can effect everything. Be it finances, family life, and most of all writers block.
I would especially recommend this book for anyone involved in writing that first book.
This dual biography dealt with the lives of the writers and how a bestseller the first go around can effect everything. Be it finances, family life, and most of all writers block.
I would especially recommend this book for anyone involved in writing that first book.
February 11, 2023
"The pure products of America go crazy".---William Carlos Williams, "Spring and All"
The key word in this depressing and illuminating dual biography is "American". Other countries have the artist, the rich, the famous, and the famous, rich artist who commits suicide but is there any nation where that triad is the cause of felo-de-se? Ross Lockridge, Jr. and Tom Heggens lived the American dream and then lost it all, taking their own lives after one gigantic stride of success. In the 1940s, Lockridge penned one novel, RAINTREE COUNTY, which a perceptive critic described as "ULYSSES for best-seller land" (in fact, it was a Book of the Month-Club Selection and a must-read for the mommy set) while Heggens wrote his only play, MISTER ROBERTS, praising, with humor, the small men doing the big fighting during World War II. Henry Fonda took it to unprecedented heights, first on Broadway and then via film. Hard work, a big dose of talent and an intuitive sense of what the American public wanted to read, or see, paid off big time for Ross and Tom yet actually precipitated their spiritual downfall. Lockridge became convinced he really was America's answer to Joyce (like ULYSSES, RAINTREE COUNTY takes place on only one day, "where it is always Fourth of July") but the money thrown at him for first the book and then the Hollywood rights, for a film version starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, ironically shook his confidence as a writer. He would never sit in front of a typewriter again. Heggens had to juggle the demands of overseeing his Broadway baby while keeping at bay those wolves who demanded an instant sequel. If all of this sounds long go and far away consider the fate of Elvis Presley and his daughter; the King, a titanic talent driven to an early grave for having to perform the same songs night after night, and his small-talent daughter, falling into drugs, divorce and depression for having to carry on her back an enormous last name. Fame, ain't it a bitch?
The key word in this depressing and illuminating dual biography is "American". Other countries have the artist, the rich, the famous, and the famous, rich artist who commits suicide but is there any nation where that triad is the cause of felo-de-se? Ross Lockridge, Jr. and Tom Heggens lived the American dream and then lost it all, taking their own lives after one gigantic stride of success. In the 1940s, Lockridge penned one novel, RAINTREE COUNTY, which a perceptive critic described as "ULYSSES for best-seller land" (in fact, it was a Book of the Month-Club Selection and a must-read for the mommy set) while Heggens wrote his only play, MISTER ROBERTS, praising, with humor, the small men doing the big fighting during World War II. Henry Fonda took it to unprecedented heights, first on Broadway and then via film. Hard work, a big dose of talent and an intuitive sense of what the American public wanted to read, or see, paid off big time for Ross and Tom yet actually precipitated their spiritual downfall. Lockridge became convinced he really was America's answer to Joyce (like ULYSSES, RAINTREE COUNTY takes place on only one day, "where it is always Fourth of July") but the money thrown at him for first the book and then the Hollywood rights, for a film version starring Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift, ironically shook his confidence as a writer. He would never sit in front of a typewriter again. Heggens had to juggle the demands of overseeing his Broadway baby while keeping at bay those wolves who demanded an instant sequel. If all of this sounds long go and far away consider the fate of Elvis Presley and his daughter; the King, a titanic talent driven to an early grave for having to perform the same songs night after night, and his small-talent daughter, falling into drugs, divorce and depression for having to carry on her back an enormous last name. Fame, ain't it a bitch?
January 14, 2021
One of the main things that drew me to this book is the fact that Thomas Heggen was my father's first cousin. They played together as boys. The story of Heggen's death was always a taboo subject in the family. The library at the journalism school is named after Tom. To this day "Mister Roberts" is one of my favorite films. Kristi & Abby Tabby
December 1, 2018
One of the most moving books I have ever read in any genre. Lockridge’s family has some beefs with Leggett’s interpretations, but that is not terribly significant; Leggett clearly presents them AS interpretations, not as the final word.
September 24, 2016
There was a time when publishing was a leisurely, gentlemanly business.
This book is four decades old, but we see its themes (suicide, mental illness, ambition, and unrealistic expectations) reflected in headlines every day. In the early 1950's, this author took a job at the prestigious publishing house Houghton Mifflin. Publishers were riding the tide of post-WWII prosperity and e-publishing was far in the future. The Boston Brahmins at HM kept a close eye on the bottom line, but their goal was to offer the best of modern literature to the American public. Leggett'e description of his experiences at HM was one of the most interesting parts of the book.
But there are always worms in apples. Houghton Mifflin was still reeling from the deaths of two of their brightest, most promising writers. Ross Lockridge's RAINTREE COUNTY was a huge book and a huge success. A "sweeping saga" of the author's family before, during, and after the Civil War, it quickly sold out its first edition, won an award from MGM Studios, and was a Book-of-the-Month. Tom Heggen's MISTER ROBERTS was based on his WWII naval service in the Pacific and was turned into a hit play starring Henry Fonda.
The author points out the similarities in the lives of the two men. Both were from middle-class mid-western families and never felt accepted as equals by the wealthy, sophisticated Easterners they admired. Both were early achievers - producing wildly successful first books while still in their twenties. Both believed that their books were not fully appreciated and resented the realities of publishing and promotion. And both committed suicide at the height of their success - Lockridge at age 33: Heggens at age 29.
There were differences, too. Lockridge was a family man; marrying early and leaving a devoted wife and four small children. Heggen was married briefly and divorced; constantly searching for the perfect woman, but never satisfied or able to sustain a relationship. Lockridge was deemed unfit for service and WWII affected him only in terms of rationing and shortages. Heggen's naval service was a defining time in his life and the basis for his one book.
Although their suicides were nine-day-wonders because of their fame and the apparent lack of "motive," they weren't really any different from the hundreds of suicides which occur every year. Neither committed suicide because of success, but because they suffered from mental illness that was untreated or ineffectually treated. Although great strides have been made, mental illness remains the Last Frontier in medical care.
This book is beautifully written. It offers charming stories about icons in American literature and entertainment in the 1950's. But it is a book from another era in more ways than one. In particular, the early lives of both men are presented in MUCH too much detail. Both Lockridge and Heggen butted heads with editors who sought to tighten up their work. In my opinion, a good editor could cut 100 pages out of this book to excellent effect.
This book is four decades old, but we see its themes (suicide, mental illness, ambition, and unrealistic expectations) reflected in headlines every day. In the early 1950's, this author took a job at the prestigious publishing house Houghton Mifflin. Publishers were riding the tide of post-WWII prosperity and e-publishing was far in the future. The Boston Brahmins at HM kept a close eye on the bottom line, but their goal was to offer the best of modern literature to the American public. Leggett'e description of his experiences at HM was one of the most interesting parts of the book.
But there are always worms in apples. Houghton Mifflin was still reeling from the deaths of two of their brightest, most promising writers. Ross Lockridge's RAINTREE COUNTY was a huge book and a huge success. A "sweeping saga" of the author's family before, during, and after the Civil War, it quickly sold out its first edition, won an award from MGM Studios, and was a Book-of-the-Month. Tom Heggen's MISTER ROBERTS was based on his WWII naval service in the Pacific and was turned into a hit play starring Henry Fonda.
The author points out the similarities in the lives of the two men. Both were from middle-class mid-western families and never felt accepted as equals by the wealthy, sophisticated Easterners they admired. Both were early achievers - producing wildly successful first books while still in their twenties. Both believed that their books were not fully appreciated and resented the realities of publishing and promotion. And both committed suicide at the height of their success - Lockridge at age 33: Heggens at age 29.
There were differences, too. Lockridge was a family man; marrying early and leaving a devoted wife and four small children. Heggen was married briefly and divorced; constantly searching for the perfect woman, but never satisfied or able to sustain a relationship. Lockridge was deemed unfit for service and WWII affected him only in terms of rationing and shortages. Heggen's naval service was a defining time in his life and the basis for his one book.
Although their suicides were nine-day-wonders because of their fame and the apparent lack of "motive," they weren't really any different from the hundreds of suicides which occur every year. Neither committed suicide because of success, but because they suffered from mental illness that was untreated or ineffectually treated. Although great strides have been made, mental illness remains the Last Frontier in medical care.
This book is beautifully written. It offers charming stories about icons in American literature and entertainment in the 1950's. But it is a book from another era in more ways than one. In particular, the early lives of both men are presented in MUCH too much detail. Both Lockridge and Heggen butted heads with editors who sought to tighten up their work. In my opinion, a good editor could cut 100 pages out of this book to excellent effect.
September 6, 2008
i found this book riveting. It is a study of two young men, both of whom commited suicide after successful first novels (Raintree county and Mr. Roberts.) The author examines their family relationships to come up with some very interesting answers.
October 30, 2009
A dual biography of two writers & their publications. Far too detailed for my taste.
June 13, 2013
I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11375345
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11375345
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews