"Where's Papa going with that axe?"
That has got to be the greatest opening line ever! In case you don't recognize it, it is the first sentence in Charlotte's Web by
E. B. White. It brings a tear to my eye to this day as I know what is coming.
In honor of today being the thirty-year anniversary of Mr. White's death, I am re-running a post below from a couple of years ago in which I encourage you to read Michael Sims's fond look at the early life of Mr. White and his writing of CW.
I was thrilled to met Michael Sims, the author of The Story of Charlotte's Web, and hear his tale of doing research for the book. He visited the farm in Maine where Mr. White wrote about Charlotte and her word-filled web. My autographed copy holds a treasured place on the bookshelf.
Also, these two links (here and here) will take you to other posts I have written about Mr. White who is one of my favorite authors and whose writing has taught me so much.
*************
March 11, 2012
Read this book...
Read This Book...if you have ever read Charlotte's Web and fallen in love with the tale of the spider and the pig.
Read This Book...if you want to be a writer, or a better writer, for the examples of clarity and conciseness found in White's words and to experience his agony and angst in order to produce such fine writing.
Read This Book...if you hate spiders and want to find out how fascinating they can be and how White himself relished researching their habits in order to give Charlotte as many true characteristics as possible - down to writing words with her web.
Read This Book...if you want to be drawn into the world of E.B.White - his childhood at the turn of the 20th century, his work at The New Yorker, his loving relationship with his wife Katherine White, his love of the natural world and the barnyard animals that inhabited his farm, and his dedication to his life of words.
In short: Read This Book.
E.B. White sounds well worth reading about. I still have my childhood copy of Charlotte's Web, and a copy of The Elements of Style. And a collection of his essays on my TBR list. Might as well add this book to the list!
ReplyDeleteKathy, this book gives such great insight into his childhood and early years and how he became so interested in the natural world. And the writing is terrific. I think it would add a lot to your knowledge of Mr. White.
DeleteI love Charlotte's Web and Strunk and White! We've got copies of both somehwere, but I haven't heard of Michael Sims. Except maybe I have, because it's likely I read your post. I'll see if I can find a copy.
ReplyDeleteYes, CW and S&W sit proudly on my shelves too. Along with many books of White's essays. He was terrific! I enjoyed learning about his early years and how he became fascinated with the natural world. If I remember correctly, the book only takes him up to his writing CW. It's a wonderful look at one of my favorite writers.
Delete