The biography delves into the life and artistic evolution of E.E. Cummings, highlighting his innovative approach to poetry that defied conventional norms. It explores his formative years in Cambridge, his influential time at Harvard, and his connections with literary figures like Dos Passos and Pound. The narrative follows his journey to Paris and Greenwich Village, where he mingled with other modernist poets. Susan Cheever provides a rich reassessment of Cummings as both a man and a groundbreaking poet, illuminating his lasting impact on American literature.
Susan Cheever Book order






- 2015
- 2015
Drinking In America
- 258 pages
- 10 hours of reading
An exploration of our nation's history of drinking and its effects on the American character written by best-selling author Susan Cheever.
- 2009
The author, a bestselling writer with a diverse portfolio that includes novels and acclaimed memoirs, has received notable accolades such as the National Book Critics Circle Award nomination and the Boston Globe Winship Medal. A Guggenheim Fellow and active in literary circles, she contributes to "Newsday" and teaches in an M.F.A. program. Residing in New York City with her family, her extensive experience and literary achievements highlight her significant presence in contemporary literature.
- 2007
American Bloomsbury
- 240 pages
- 9 hours of reading
A portrait of five Concord, Massachusetts, writers whose works were at the center of mid-nineteenth-century American thought and literature evaluates their interconnected relationships, influence on each other's works, and complex beliefs.
- 1999
Note Found in a Bottle
- 192 pages
- 7 hours of reading
Born into a world ruled by the cocktail hour, in which the solution to any problem could be found in a dry martini, Susan Cheever's existence was both charmed and damned. She and her father, the celebrated novelist and short-story writer John Cheever, were both deeply touched and troubled by alcohol.For the first time addressing the profound effects that alcohol had on her life, in shaping her relationships with men, and in influencing her efforts as a writer, Susan Cheever has written a memoir that is shockingly revealing. She tells of her childhood obsession with the niceties of cocktails and all that they implied -- sociability, sophistication, status; her college days spent drinking beer and cheap wine; and her three failed marriages. It is a compelling story that brings her perilously close to the edge of oblivion. Sober now for several years, Susan looks back on her life with clear-eyed candor in a book about recovery that is wrenching and ultimately inspiring.
- 1999
Using a rich collection of unpublished letters, journals, and personal memories, the author offers a heartfelt and intimate portrait of her father, John Cheever. This tribute delves into the complexities of their relationship, revealing both the struggles and the profound connections that defined it. Through this exploration, readers gain a deeper understanding of Cheever's life and legacy, as well as the impact he had on his daughter's journey.