| E.B. White 1899-1985 |
Mr. White is most beloved for his story of the friendship between a pig and a spider - Charlotte's Web. He wrote Stuart Little, the story of a mouse born to human parents, and The Trumpet of the Swan.
I love Mr. White for his essays collected in One Man's Meat, The Second Tree From the Corner, The Points of My Compass, all of which sit on my bookshelves along with a piece he wrote for Holiday magazine, Here is New York. It was published as a book in 1949.
If you haven't already read The Story of Charlotte's Web (2011) by Michael Sims, I urge you to do so. The title is misleading. The book is really an affectionate biography of Mr. White's life up until Charlotte's Web was published and how his life influenced his writings. It is superb.
So here's to you Elwyn Brooks White and thank you for providing me and many others with so many hours of reading pleasure.
Thanks for reminding us about E. B. White's birthday. It's well worth celebrating. My third grade teacher read Charlotte's Web to us and I never forgot it. I just tried to convince my niece to name her second daughter Charlotte!
ReplyDeleteI love White's essays, the epitome of fine writing, in my opinion. I've read The Story of Charlotte's Web and enjoyed it. I've also enjoyed Katherine White's (E. B.'s wife) Onward and Upward in the Garden. They were a talented and interesting duo.
Hi Joan. I was an adult before I read 'Charlotte's Web'. I just knew it was going to be sad! I think Charlotte is a lovely name.
DeleteWhite's essays are a wonder to behold, aren't they. Never a false word. I too have read Katherine's gardening book and enjoyed it tremendously. There must have been wonderful dinner conversations between the two of them!
Every time I visit your blog I add two or three books to my TBR list! I would be interested in the essays as well as the biography of E.B. White. He seems like a charming person.
ReplyDeleteKathy, you can't go wrong with E.B. White. I especially enjoyed Michael Sims's biography as it gave me an insight into the influences on White's writing. I was fortunate enough to meet Jones at a book signing here. He had visited the Maine farm where White lived and where the above photo, one of my favorites, was taken. It is White's writing studio. He was a lovely man.
DeleteCharlotte's Web was one of my favorite books growing up. Still makes me cry. What a story. You may enjoy a recent post I wrote about it over at www.ritewhileucan.com/web-of-words Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Barb. What fun you are having on your blog. Thanks for sharing about Charlotte and her web of words. And wonderful quotes. I am fond of "Where's Papa going with that ax?" It sets a tone, doesn't it!
DeleteGlad to see that the flood waters have receded in your area. Thanks for dropping by.