Thanks, Tom. I don't think I know too many people who worked as hard as Agee did and refused to enjoy what they accomplished. I ended up thinking that all his growth (his writing) was somehow on the outside and never got through the shell around who he was. Terrible marriages, baffling fatherhood--3 wives, 4 children. I could barely follow all of this--making life up as he went along. Does improvisation leave no trail? Most people think it does not. I think that tenuousness appealed to Agee.
Thanks for this Allen. I was fascinated by his idea of writing as being similar to jazz improv. He was quite an interesting sort!
Thanks, Tom. I don't think I know too many people who worked as hard as Agee did and refused to enjoy what they accomplished. I ended up thinking that all his growth (his writing) was somehow on the outside and never got through the shell around who he was. Terrible marriages, baffling fatherhood--3 wives, 4 children. I could barely follow all of this--making life up as he went along. Does improvisation leave no trail? Most people think it does not. I think that tenuousness appealed to Agee.
I have often noticed that people who have significant genius in one area are many times deficient in other areas. Seems that might be true for Agee.