I made it to chapter three. I just couldn't get into a groove with this book

Book received from NetGalley.

This is another reprint for Endeavour Press. I enjoyed reading about this writer but I didn't get a lot out of the book. While I have heard of Rebecca West I have never read anything of hers or was super interested in her before. I think once I read one of her books I will enjoy the biography more.

A good and exhaustive biography of Rebecca West.
a bit 'too long to be intended for an audience of non-specialists.

Una buona ed esaustiva biografia di Rebecca West.
un po' troppo lunga per essere destinata anche ad un pubblico di non specialisti.

“Rebecca West: A Modern Sibyl” (2017 edition) is a brilliantly crafted biographical masterpiece by Carl Rollyson. A gifted prolific award winning author of over 40 books featuring essay, literary criticism, and the lives of notable people including Marilyn Monroe, Susan Sontag, Martha Gellhorn, Sylvia Plath, Norman Mailer, William Faulkner—and so many others. Rollyson earned his PhD at the University of Toronto.

Born Cicely Isabel Fairfield aka Dame Rebecca West- “RW”-(1892-1983), RW was recognized for reportage and journalism, her fiction and non-fiction writing, essays, book reviews, and numerous articles in a multitude of notable publications. RW wrote and traveled abroad extensively nearly all her life. Among the most prestigious awards she received was The Women’s Press Club Award (1948) presented by President Harry Truman. In 1959 she received her honorary title at a luncheon from the Queen and Princess Margaret.
“She was a monster, but monsters can be loveable.” - Noel Davis (friend) - Those who loved RW easily appreciated her fun, generous, free spirited nature. People adored her! According to her editors, she had a gift of putting others at ease, with a quick brilliant mind and sense of humor. With a penchant for drama, acting was her first love, and she adopted her stage name. There was an impulsive, volatile side to her temperament and RW was capable of explosive angry outbursts that sometimes scared others. “There would never be another like her.” H.G. Wells (1866-1946).

Although Wells was 46 years old when he invited RW to his home after her critical review of his novel Marriage (1912) claiming he was “the old maid among novelists”. Wells, already divorced and remarried, was a notorious womanizer. The spunky flamboyant RW totally thrilled and captivated him, he talked to her non-stop for 5 hours. Later, as he readily accepted the role as her mentor and lover, she became his muse. The themes in their novels were often a reflection of their relationship—which lasted over 3 decades, until his death. Wells fathered RW only son: Anthony Panther West Fairfield (1914-87).

Anthony seemed to suffer life-long emotional distress over his relationship with his mother and his parent’s inability to have a truthful discussion with him regarding their complex and confusing relationship. Anthony’s classmates taunted/ridiculed him, the servants/others whispered about his “bastard” status. Like his famous wealthy parents, Anthony would become a successful author: with “Heritage” (1955), also a biography of his father, and many other titles. RW felt compromised with Anthony writing about their personal life.
Rollyson expertly revealed both sides of the conflict, without taking sides. This wasn't the case with Vita Sackville West, who admonished RW over her apparent obsession of “malice” towards her son. When RW married the kindly childless banker Henry Maxwell Andrews (m.1930-68), Anthony was suspicious, mistrustful, (as he was with his mother) and resisted his step-father’s genuine concern and love for him.
Enjoying tremendous success with her first American tour, RW embraced the modern times of liberated feminism with gusto, she naturally had legions of fans/admirers and numerous lovers. When she covered the Nuremburg Crime Trials, RW was distracted by an affair, though she would feel the sting of betrayal discovering her husband’s secrets after his death.

As a visionary, with so much world travel, RW understood imperialism in world history. The Russian Revolution hadn’t influenced modern or future society. RW relished her honor to proclaim Communism a “Dud” (especially in relation to British socialism). This had a tremendous negative impact on her literary career-- she was harshly criticized and viewed as intolerant for her public rebuke of the “great experiment.”
Tact and diplomacy were hardly her strong points. RW objected to censorship, also literature that had no moral fiber or redeeming value. In the 1962 Edinburgh Festival she bashed Henry Miller as an “odious old phoney”-- William Burroughs “lizard like”--and Norman Mailer as an “idiot gorilla.” Of the festival she reported: “an indescribable orgy of bad taste, vulgarity, and bad criticism.”

It was necessary for Rollyson to get multiple versions of the same story; and he had the full cooperation of RW numerous family members and friends. David Ogilvy, a cousin, who knew RW for over 50 years believed her to be “an incorrigible liar”. Anthony once labeled her a “fabulist” her correspondence bearing little resemblance to the truth or reality. RW thoroughly enjoyed embellishing her stories for listeners and readers alike, it certainly made them more interesting! In the memoir genre, this is often referred to as creative non-fiction, recognized as “truth” according to the author. In this extensive 491 page biography, Rollyson stuck to the facts, yet was unable to fit all of his material into this astonishing unforgettable read! ~ With thanks and appreciation to The Odyssey/Endeavour Press Ltd. via NetGalley for the DRC for the purpose of review.