John Updike: A man of contradictions, and a very prolific writer
With the sad passing of John Updike last week, it will still be years before his true impact on the literary world will be realized. But that hasn’t stopped publications like the New York Times from trying to place Mr. Updike in proper perspective, like they did in this article:
Mr. Updike was also America’s last true man of letters, an all-purpose writer and a custodian of literary culture. He wrote more, and in more different genres — stories, novels, poems, essays, reviews, occasional journalism — than anyone since Henry James, and it’s hard to imagine how he can be replaced. Who has the energy, or the eyeballs, for that much reading?
And in the very next paragraph, Mr. Updike is shown as a man who lived outside of the literary culture he dominated so much of:
In many ways, though, Mr. Updike was an unlikely man of letters. He lived a quiet, burgherly life in a seaside Boston suburb and seldom went to literary parties. He dropped by New York now and then to visit museums and see relatives, but he never stayed long. He didn’t teach; he almost never gave blurbs; he belonged to no literary school or faction. His idea of a reward after a morning’s work was not lunch or drinks with other writers but a round of golf with his buddies.
Maybe because he lived outside the literary establishment, Mr. Updike was able to concentrate on writing and other literary pursuits without becoming engrossed in the "politics" that is often associated with teaching, or belonging to one school of thought (factions) or another. In other words, Mr. Updike did what he loved and tried to live a normal life. Did this have an effect on his writing? I bet it did!
But I really admire John Updike because he was such a prolific writer and never limited himself to one genre or style. I think that also played a part in his greatness; he was willing to explore other aspects of literature than just writing fiction.
This can be a lesson for all of us! If you’re a writer, then spread your wings and explore new worlds. If you have only written fiction, then dabble in a little poetry. Try writing book reviews and, if you’re really adventurous, maybe some literary criticism. The more variety you put into your writing, the better writer you will become!
How varied is your writing? Do you limit yourself to just fiction or poetry (for example), or do you spread yourself out and see where your literary talents take you? Leave a comment below and share your answers!
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