The Journals of John Cheever

John Cheever is renowned for his flawlessly observed short stories, primarily written about New Yorkers for The New Yorker magazine . He maintained a pristine public image, but his posthumously released journals reveal not only a writer grappling with the perfect phrase or description, but a man in the throes of alcoholism, compulsive infidelity, and bisexuality. Few American writers have left behind such utterly honest journals; each entry sheds light on Cheever's meticulous craft and his often tormented personal life, though the most prevalent notes in this private symphony are tenderness and an unswerving sense of beauty.