"A biography of great immediacy. . . . There are many sections of great
poignancy, many funny things, many of electric intimacy and candor . . .
there is spellbinding power, never more so than in describing Cheever's
death, pages that are both terrible and deeply moving; one is losing an
old, beloved friend." --James Salter, Los Angeles Times Book Review
"John Cheever: A Biography is clearly an indispensable book. Donaldson
moves gracefully from the personal to the literary. . . . Solidly
researched and entirely readable, admiring of the writer and knowing
about the man. Stuffed with fascinating anecdotes. It's a gut-wrenching
story. Donaldson tells it straight, without embellishment, and our
attention never strays." --Dan Cryer, Newsday
"A coup of investigative reporting." --Publishers Weekly
"Both erudite and earthly. What emerges is a rich tapestry that gives
the reader extraordinary insight into the workings of a master
storyteller's mind." --Jean Graham, New York Daily News
"John Cheever: A Biography by Scott Donaldson is as readable and
'unputdownable' as any thriller." --T. Coraghessan Boyle
"A revelation. What a triumph." --Frederick Exley
"Donaldson has set a high standard that other biographers will find
difficult to equal." --John Blades, Chicago Tribune
