The Birth of a Grandfather

by May Sarton

Grandfathers are generally produced by the birth of grandchildren. But Sprig Wyeth needed more than the arrival of his first grandchild to welcome that role. This is the story of the Wyeth family, set in Cambridge, Massachusetts (and in the summer, Maine): the very old, who are looking back; Sprig and his wife Frances, who are finding their way in the midst of youthful hopes that refuse to fade away; and the young, embarking on adulthood, sometimes with anger. As Sprig struggles to reach past his reserve so that he can be there for his wife and children, and for a friend who needs him, the other characters likewise find their way to what self-fulfillment means.

Genres: Fiction, Family

277 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

May Sarton was born on May 3, 1912, in Wondelgem, Belgium, and grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her first volume of poetry, Encounters in April, was published in 1937 and her first novel, The Single Hound, in 1938. An accomplished memoirist, Sarton boldly came out as a lesbian in her 1965 book Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing. Her later memoir, Journal of a Solitude, was an account of her experiences as a female artist. Sarton died in York, Maine, on July 16, 1995.

Reviews

[Jane Dugger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as her nonfiction especially Journal of a Solitude.

That said the characters are interesting and the dynamics between them are subtle but fascinating.

[Deborah Schuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second May Sarton novel that I've read, and I'm wondering why her novels were never made into movies. Or perhaps it's because American films depend more on adventure/action and SF/Fantasy than the character-driven plots of which May Sarton excels. Her characters have become real people to me, and I wonder (and sometimes worry) what will become of them once the books are read and put away.

[Syd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is an intricate study of a marriage and the relationships within a family. More specifically, it magnifies the problem of balancing an independent personality with the expectations of the people closest to you.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

One I've had for some time but kept as a vacation read.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A newly discovered author for me w a great body of work. Very insightful.