Highsmith: A Romance of the 1950's in Queereaders

Sep 18, 2010 Faith Reidenbach rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-queer-nonfiction

It's hard to separate my opinion of this book from my opinion of Meaker, which I revised sharply downward after reading this memoir. The publisher bills it as a look into gay New York in the 1950s (the culture of rich white gay people, it's supposed to go without saying), and the book is interesting for that. But mainly, it's interesting as a psychological study of someone who mentions the personal failures and character defects that others have pointed out to her, but who apparently doesn't tak It's hard to separate my opinion of this book from my opinion of Meaker, which I revised sharply downward after reading this memoir. The publisher bills it as a look into gay New York in the 1950s (the culture of rich white gay people, it's supposed to go without saying), and the book is interesting for that. But mainly, it's interesting as a psychological study of someone who mentions the personal failures and character defects that others have pointed out to her, but who apparently doesn't take responsibility for them.

Meaker (aka Vin Packer, M.E. Kerr, Ann Aldrich, and Mary James) is prolific but a B- or C-list writer, whereas Highsmith was one of the great writers of the 20th century. Meaker spends a lot of energy suggesting that their writing is on a par with Highsmith's, not just in 1959-1961 when they were lovers but also now. She paints Highsmith as an alcoholic (which she was) and complains that she (Meaker) had to drink too much to keep up, but even writing in the early years of this century she seems to be unfamiliar with the concepts of co-alcoholism, enabling, or codependence.

Meaker was pathologically afraid that Highsmith might return to a certain former lover. For example, Meaker had to be talked down from having that woman's mail forwarded to her own address so she could tell whether Highsmith was writing to her. Yet she never agreed to take one of the steps the other woman had taken to keep Highsmith happy, which was to travel to the European countries that Highsmith loved. Instead, Meaker convinced Highsmith to move to "the country" (Bucks County, PA), where she could have her to herself, then blames their isolation for the end of their relationship.

The memoir ends with a fascinating 4-day reunion between Meaker and Highsmith, near the end of Highsmith's life. Meaker wishes to emphasize Highsmith's racism and anti-Semitism—she alludes to having kept written records of what Highsmith said. But she also describes spectacularly self-centered acts of her own without seeming to realize how bad her behavior was and how she took advantage of Highsmith. I left this book wanting to read more of Highsmith and have nothing more to do with Meaker. ...more

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Jan 08, 2023 Jules rated it really liked it

Shelves: equality, literature, politics, love

Was looking for a building in Highsmith but this is all my library has. Wow! What a cool book to come across. This has so much lesbian history of New York City (and USA lesbian culture) and the literary crowd between 1940s-70s. This is the soft light side of Stone Butch Blues.

Also I really loved this author and how she wove the story together. Her honesty about her own insecurities and jealousy was refreshing. I'm excited to read more of her work. ...more

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