This is great! Worthy appreciation of the great goddess.
I was introduced to her, somewhat unexpectedly, by a professor of mine. It was after a talk she gave at my grad school program. All I could think of to say at that moment was: "I think you're amazing." I'm really happy that that's what came out of my mouth.
A great piece on a writer too often overshadowed today by the (justly but overly) sainted Didion.
As a side note, I actually read McGuinness' book, and even though as you read it he makes a plausible case that seems well-sourced, you can sense his hostility toward his subject and it starts to make it hard to believe him. Then when you read Errol Morris' disassembly of most of the evidence and claims McGuinness makes, until the otherwise-inexplicable (i.e., either so weird it's true or so totally made up from lazy headline reading it's false) story MacDonald told sounds more plausible than the baroque and lurid amphetamine psychosis of the first claim. I don't know if MacDonald did it, but I am satisfied that his trial was, to quote another cryptic wordsmith, "a pig-circus; he never had a chance." At the very least, the fact that Morris found so much weakness and confusion really justifies and enhances Malcolm's willful uncertainty and refusal to accept the narrative.
I’m in complete agreement, Henry — Janet Malcolm is/was the greatest. Recently, I found a copy of the updated edition of The Secret Woman on the remainder racks at the Strand. Snapped it up and tore through it over the next two days. Unputtdownable.
One question for you, Henry, since it's been a while since i've read the Sheila McGough book and Iphigenia of Forest Hills, but my memory is that Malcolm didn't reach for the concept of the personality disorder when talking about the two women, and that I was surprised by that, given how much it sounded like both of them had personality disorders. Is that right?
Actually this is something I'd love to discuss more with you specifically haha-- she is very into psychoanalysis but totally contemptuous of psychiatry in the part of Journalist/Murderer where she's talking to the expert witness who diagnosed McGinness as a psychopath. I think she calls it just "new ways to describe the problem of evil". Probably a modern journalist would be much quicker to label McGough as on the autism spectrum or something like that. Borukhova is a bit more of a black box though, idk, especially because she comes from such an insular community.
As to your other comment, if I had gotten the chance to meet her I think she is one of the few writers I would be starstruck by, so I'm with you.
I am profoundly grateful for this (re)introduction to Malcolm. I will read again. I would like to note that Hughes did a remarkable job of firewalking the volcanic hatred of him and the delicate task of representing his wife’s work in a way that kept it- not him- center stage.
And, oh! If that PYP brigade founded Design Research then I would have wished to be a member.
This is great! Worthy appreciation of the great goddess.
I was introduced to her, somewhat unexpectedly, by a professor of mine. It was after a talk she gave at my grad school program. All I could think of to say at that moment was: "I think you're amazing." I'm really happy that that's what came out of my mouth.
Great piece Henry. I’ve never read Malcolm but I love anything that blurs the line between truth and fiction so will have to read something.
A great piece on a writer too often overshadowed today by the (justly but overly) sainted Didion.
As a side note, I actually read McGuinness' book, and even though as you read it he makes a plausible case that seems well-sourced, you can sense his hostility toward his subject and it starts to make it hard to believe him. Then when you read Errol Morris' disassembly of most of the evidence and claims McGuinness makes, until the otherwise-inexplicable (i.e., either so weird it's true or so totally made up from lazy headline reading it's false) story MacDonald told sounds more plausible than the baroque and lurid amphetamine psychosis of the first claim. I don't know if MacDonald did it, but I am satisfied that his trial was, to quote another cryptic wordsmith, "a pig-circus; he never had a chance." At the very least, the fact that Morris found so much weakness and confusion really justifies and enhances Malcolm's willful uncertainty and refusal to accept the narrative.
Outstanding. Worthy of its subject.
how do you have time to write so learnedly so frequently? fully automated luxury Begler
I took a week off work to finish this + Blake essay lol. Other than that it's mostly waking up early, writing in the morning, reading at night.
incredible
🐐 🐐🐐
I’m in complete agreement, Henry — Janet Malcolm is/was the greatest. Recently, I found a copy of the updated edition of The Secret Woman on the remainder racks at the Strand. Snapped it up and tore through it over the next two days. Unputtdownable.
I've never heard of (basically) any of these people so this read like a Sam Kriss piece. fantastic stuff.
You have some good times ahead!
One question for you, Henry, since it's been a while since i've read the Sheila McGough book and Iphigenia of Forest Hills, but my memory is that Malcolm didn't reach for the concept of the personality disorder when talking about the two women, and that I was surprised by that, given how much it sounded like both of them had personality disorders. Is that right?
Actually this is something I'd love to discuss more with you specifically haha-- she is very into psychoanalysis but totally contemptuous of psychiatry in the part of Journalist/Murderer where she's talking to the expert witness who diagnosed McGinness as a psychopath. I think she calls it just "new ways to describe the problem of evil". Probably a modern journalist would be much quicker to label McGough as on the autism spectrum or something like that. Borukhova is a bit more of a black box though, idk, especially because she comes from such an insular community.
As to your other comment, if I had gotten the chance to meet her I think she is one of the few writers I would be starstruck by, so I'm with you.
The idea that you can end up punished mostly for being difficult says something bleak and strangely familiar about how things actually work.
This piece proves that admiration for a writer can produce great writing. A total pleasure and fascinating to read.
I am profoundly grateful for this (re)introduction to Malcolm. I will read again. I would like to note that Hughes did a remarkable job of firewalking the volcanic hatred of him and the delicate task of representing his wife’s work in a way that kept it- not him- center stage.
And, oh! If that PYP brigade founded Design Research then I would have wished to be a member.
So good, I saved it!
Loved this - thank you