John Cheever
John Cheever: A Literary Luminary
Full Name and Common Aliases
Full Name: John William Cheever
Common Aliases: Often referred to as the "Chekhov of the suburbs," John Cheever is also known simply as Cheever.
Birth and Death Dates
Birth Date: May 27, 1912
Death Date: June 18, 1982
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: American
Profession(s): Novelist, Short Story Writer
Early Life and Background
John Cheever was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, into a family that experienced both affluence and hardship. His father, Frederick Lincoln Cheever, was a prosperous shoe salesman, while his mother, Mary Liley Cheever, ran a gift shop. The Cheever family faced financial difficulties during the Great Depression, which deeply affected John's upbringing and later influenced his writing. Cheever's early education was marked by instability; he was expelled from Thayer Academy, an experience he later fictionalized in his first published short story, "Expelled," which appeared in The New Republic in 1930.
Despite these challenges, Cheever's passion for writing was evident from a young age. He moved to New York City in the 1930s, where he began to establish himself as a writer. His early years in the city were characterized by a bohemian lifestyle and a commitment to honing his craft, which eventually led to his stories being published in prestigious magazines such as The New Yorker.
Major Accomplishments
John Cheever's literary career is marked by numerous accolades and achievements. He is best known for his short stories, which capture the complexities of suburban life in post-war America. Cheever's ability to explore themes of identity, family, and the human condition earned him widespread acclaim. In 1979, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for his collection "The Stories of John Cheever," which solidified his reputation as a master of the short story form.
In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, Cheever received the National Book Award for Fiction in 1958 for his novel "The Wapshot Chronicle" and the National Medal for Literature in 1982. His work was also recognized with the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for Fiction.
Notable Works or Actions
John Cheever's body of work includes several novels and numerous short stories that have become classics of American literature. His first novel, "The Wapshot Chronicle," published in 1957, is a semi-autobiographical tale that explores the lives of the Wapshot family in a small New England town. The novel was followed by "The Wapshot Scandal" in 1964, which continued the family's saga.
Cheever's other notable novels include "Bullet Park" (1969), a darkly comic exploration of suburban malaise, and "Falconer" (1977), a powerful narrative about a man imprisoned for murder. However, it is his short stories, such as "The Swimmer," "The Enormous Radio," and "Reunion," that have left an indelible mark on American literature. These stories, often set in the suburbs, reveal the underlying tensions and existential dilemmas faced by their characters.
Impact and Legacy
John Cheever's impact on American literature is profound. His keen observations of suburban life and his ability to capture the nuances of human relationships have influenced generations of writers. Cheever's work is celebrated for its lyrical prose, psychological depth, and exploration of themes such as alienation, identity, and the search for meaning.
Cheever's legacy extends beyond his literary achievements. He is remembered as a writer who brought the complexities of suburban America to the forefront of literary discourse. His stories continue to resonate with readers, offering insights into the human experience that remain relevant today.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
John Cheever is widely quoted and remembered for his ability to articulate the intricacies of human emotions and the contradictions of modern life. His writing captures the essence of the American experience, particularly the tension between the idealized vision of suburban life and its often harsh realities. Cheever's work is characterized by its rich characterizations, poignant storytelling, and a deep understanding of the human psyche.
His quotes often reflect his insights into the human condition, offering wisdom and reflection on themes such as love, loss, and the passage of time. Cheever's enduring popularity is a testament to his skill as a storyteller and his profound impact on the literary world.
Quotes by John Cheever
John Cheever's insights on:
It was still mild when they walked home from the party, and Irene looked up at the spring stars. “How far that little candle throws its beams,” she exclaimed. “So shines a good dead in a naughty world.
I know some people who are afraid to write a business letter because they will encounter and reveal themselves.
Trace listened to the story, but how could he get excited? Francis had no powers that would let him re-create a brush with death – particularly in the atmosphere of a commuting train, journeying through a sunny countryside where already, in the slum gardens, there were signs of harvest.
Each year, we rent a house at the edge of the sea and drive there in the first of the summer – with the dog and cat, the children, and the cook – arriving at a strange place a little before dark. The journey to the sea has its ceremonious excitements, it has gone on for so many years now, and there is the sense that we are, as in our dreams we have always known ourselves to be, migrants and wanderers – travelers, at least, with a traveler’s acuteness of feeling.” – from ““The Seaside Houses.
There is something universal about being stood up in a city restaurant between one and two – a spiritual no-man’s-land, whose blasted trees, entrenchments, and ratholes we all share, disarmed by the gullibility of our hearts.
Homesickness is absolutely nothing,” she said angrily. “It is absolutely nothing. Fifty per cent of the people in the world are homesick all the time. But I don’t suppose you’re old enough to understand. When you’re in one place and long to be in another, it isn’t as simple as taking a boat. You don’t really long for another country. You long for something in yourself that you don’t have, or haven’t been able to find.
Like most incurable fibbers, she had an extravagant regard for the truth, which she expressed by sending up signals meant to indicate that she was lying.
The novel remains for me one of the few forms... where we can describe, step by step, minute by minute, our not altogether unpleasant struggle to put ourselves into a viable and devout relationship to our beloved and mistaken world.