Book Review: My Impressions of the Wolfe Family and of Maxwell Perkins, by William B. Wisdom (1993)

William B. Wisdom is an important figure in Thomas Wolfe studies, as it was Wisdom that purchased Wolfe’s papers and manuscripts after Wolfe’s death and donated them to Harvard University. Two pamphlets of Wisdom’s writings about Wolfe were published by the Thomas Wolfe Society: The Table Talk of Thomas Wolfe, which recounted Wisdom’s meetings with Wolfe in New Orleans in 1937, was published in 1988, and My Impressions of the Wolfe Family and of Maxwell Perkins was published in 1993. The Table Talk of Thomas Wolfe is the more interesting volume, as it gives the reader some insights as to what Thomas Wolfe was like. 

My Impressions of the Wolfe Family and of Maxwell Perkins focuses on Wisdom’s purchasing of Wolfe’s papers and manuscripts from the Wolfe family after Thomas’s tragic early death in 1938 from tuberculosis. Wisdom was aided in his quest by Wolfe’s editor Maxwell Perkins. Perkins was more than just an editor, he was a true friend and mentor to Thomas Wolfe, and the Wolfe family put a lot of trust in Perkins. Scribner’s was the publishing house where Maxwell Perkins worked, and in addition to editing Wolfe, Perkins was also the editor for F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway. It’s pretty amazing that Perkins was editing three of the greatest American authors of that era. 

Julia Wolfe was the matriarch of the Wolfe clan, and she was a shrewd businesswoman who ran a boardinghouse and owned a substantial amount of property in Asheville, North Carolina. Wisdom knew that staying on Julia’s good side was key to maintaining a good relationship with the Wolfe family. 

It’s fascinating to read about the mundane details of Wolfe’s papers, like how Wisdom bought a huge storage trunk to transport Wolfe’s papers in. Wisdom also gives the reader an idea of the other Wolfe siblings. Suffice it to say, the Wolfe family was full of colorful characters, as anyone who has read Look Homeward, Angel will know. 

What I found to be one of the most interesting parts of the book was the section where Wisdom discussed Perkins’ and Wolfe’s differences. Perkins and Wolfe were always at separate poles politically, and Wisdom writes “Wolfe as he grew older was becoming more and more affected by social consciousness, which verged toward socialism.” (p.38) In some of Wolfe’s later short stories like “I Have a Thing to Tell You” and “The Party at Jack’s,” his social consciousness comes to the forefront and emerges as a core theme. I wonder how Wolfe’s political ideas would have evolved had he lived longer, and if his emerging social consciousness would have continued to be a theme in his work. 

Book Review: The Table Talk of Thomas Wolfe, by William B. Wisdom (1988)

The Table Talk of Thomas Wolfe is a slim volume, written by William B. Wisdom and published by the Thomas Wolfe Society in 1988. Among Thomas Wolfe fans, William B. Wisdom is an exalted figure. It was Wisdom who bought Wolfe's manuscripts and papers and donated them to Harvard University, where they currently reside in the Houghton Library. 

Wisdom met Thomas Wolfe when he was living in New Orleans, and Wolfe visited the city in January of 1937. Wisdom already thought that Wolfe was the greatest American author of his generation, and he was ecstatic when he learned that Wolfe was in town. Wisdom then contrived to spend as much time as possible with Wolfe. 

Wolfe comes out of the book very well, as he is polite, kind, and indulgent of Wisdom's desire to hang out with him. Wisdom is completely star-struck by Wolfe, which he admits, and he comes off as a bit of a pest and a weirdo. Not dangerous or anything, mind you, but just a bit too intense. 

It's tricky. Wisdom has one shot, or actually more than one, since Wolfe keeps hanging out with him, to tell his hero that he thinks he is the most important writer in America today. But every time Wisdom tries to draw Wolfe out about his own writing, Wolfe clams up, or deflects the line of questioning. I can't really blame either man for acting the way they do. If I had one opportunity to tell F. Scott Fitzgerald what his writing has meant to me, I'd probably turn into the same obsessive fan that Wisdom comes off as. But that being said, what is Wolfe supposed to say when Wisdom tells him he's the most important American writer? That's a bit of a conversation stopper. 

In my limited conversations with notable people, I've found it's better to under praise than over praise. Honestly, they've probably heard so many people tell them how great they are that it doesn't mean anything anymore. The first time I met Robyn Hitchcock, way back in 2009, I earnestly told him that I thought he was one of the greatest songwriters of our time. He laughed and said, "Well, I'm certainly one of the oldest." I had made a statement that gave him no real way to react. I had made a huge blanket statement declaring my true fandom. And what was Robyn Hitchcock supposed to say back to me? So, he deflected it with a joke. I've never had the opportunity to have an extended conversation with Robyn Hitchcock, but the times I’ve met him since then I've tried to just be a little more relaxed, a little more normal. After a show while he's signing autographs I'll say, "I've seen you a bunch of times and always enjoyed it," or tell him I was glad he played a specific song. And that works. He can say “Thank you very much,” and we can both go on our way, neither one embarrassed. 

Wisdom’s story about how he met Wolfe is fascinating. Wisdom had learned from a friend that Wolfe was in town, and shortly after learning that fact, Wisdom saw Wolfe walking down the street. Their eyes locked, and they started a conversation. Connection made. Wisdom later had lunch with Wolfe and another writer, E.P. “Pat” O’Donnell, who had recently published a novel titled Green Margins that was quite successful. 

Wisdom writes about having lunch with Wolfe: “I tried several times, without avail, to get Tom to talk about himself. It was no go. Nor would he discuss his books.” (p.28) 

One of the interesting tidbits about Thomas Wolfe was this one: “He said that one of his favorite books and undoubtedly the most interesting, was the World Almanac, that it contained more things of interest than anybody he knew.” (p.30) I found that quite interesting and could perhaps help to explain Wolfe’s love of lists in his writing. 

Wisdom asked Wolfe what he thought of several contemporary writers. About F. Scott Fitzgerald, Wolfe said only “Poor Scott.” (p.49) Scott was going through a pretty terrible period in his life in early 1937, so Wolfe’s comment was quite accurate. 

Wisdom even admits to the reader that he opened a note that Wolfe wanted him to deliver, then Wisdom re-copied the note so he could keep the original note in his collection! I’m not quite sure what the ethics on that are, but Wolfe never learned of Wisdom’s deception. 

The Table Talk of Thomas Wolfe is an interesting little volume for fans of Wolfe.