Jessamyn West Criticism
Jessamyn West, an esteemed American novelist, short story writer, and screenwriter, is celebrated for her profound depictions of adolescence and Quaker life. Her stories often explore the transitional period from childhood to adulthood with empathy and insight, notably in Cress Delahanty, where she vividly portrays a young girl's journey from twelve to sixteen. West's work frequently features episodic collections, such as The Friendly Persuasion and its sequel Except for Me and Thee, which center on the Birdwell family, illustrating their moral and personal struggles within a Quaker context. This narrative was successfully adapted into a film, with West contributing to the screenplay and documenting the process in her journal To See the Dream.
Her writing is grounded in her native Indiana and California, bringing historical settings to life with contemporary relevance, as noted by John T. Flanagan. West's South of the Angels and The Massacre at Fall Creek exemplify her ability to animate historical events with rich character portrayals. Despite criticism that her full-length novels lack the intimacy of her sketches, her works are lauded for their authentic depiction of ordinary individuals navigating universal challenges. West's storytelling reveals the thoughts and desires that shape her characters, offering readers a deeply personal insight into her literary vision.
Contents
- West, Jessamyn (Vol. 7)
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West, Jessamyn (Vol. 17)
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Unadulterated Purity
(summary)
In the following essay, Nathan L. Rothman critiques "The Friendly Persuasion" by Jessamyn West for its episodic nature and lack of historical context, but praises West's evocative prose and the intimate depiction of the Quakers' inner lives and idealism, asserting that the book's strength lies in its portrayal of purity of heart.
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Tales of the Quaker Folk Who Lived and Worked in Indiana
(summary)
In the following essay, Flora Hendricks celebrates Jessamyn West's "The Friendly Persuasion" as a delightfully human and poetic contribution to American literature, highlighting its seamless integration of storytelling and character development.
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Where Loveliness Used To Be: Life in an Irish Quaker Indiana Community in the Last Century
(summary)
In the following essay, Ernestine Evans praises Jessamyn West's "The Friendly Persuasion" for its evocative storytelling, rich character development, and profound commentary on American customs, asserting that the book's humor and depth offer a timeless and poetic exploration of life in an Irish Quaker community.
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Titles on the Broadway Bookrack: 'A Mirror for the Sky'
(summary)
In the following essay, James MacBride critiques Jessamyn West's theatrical work "Mirror for the Sky" as a misguided effort that lacks theatrical knowledge, offering neither competent writing nor an effective portrayal of Audubon's career.
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A Search, Maddening and Infectious
(summary)
In the following essay, Eudora Welty examines Jessamyn West's novel "The Witch Diggers," highlighting its exploration of love, responsibility, and fate, set amidst a richly detailed and morally complex world, where characters' inarticulate nature ties to their destinies, with symbolic actions standing in for verbal communication.
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Indiana Tragedy
(summary)
In the following essay, William E. Wilson critiques Jessamyn West's novel "The Witch Diggers," arguing that while West excels in depicting natural beauty and domestic settings, her skills are less effective in the broader scope of a novel and the exploration of darker themes, lacking the complexity seen in Faulkner's works.
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'That Crazy Kid'
(summary)
In the following essay, Edward Weeks commends Jessamyn West's ability to vividly portray adolescent life through the character of Cress Delahanty, emphasizing West's skillful depiction of Cress's spirited journey from an unnoticed freshman to an engaging and independent young woman.
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Humor and Pathos and Understanding
(summary)
In the following essay, Dan Wickenden examines "Cress Delahanty" by Jessamyn West, highlighting its blend of compassionate comedy and realism, noting West's adept handling of themes such as love and human devotion, while acknowledging minor inconsistencies and an uneven tone due to its episodic nature.
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Adolescence
(summary)
In the following essay, T. E. Cassidy praises Cress Delahanty by Jessamyn West for its exquisite portrayal of adolescence, particularly that of young girls, highlighting West's deft characterization, insightful narrative, and the combination of tenderness and dramatic flair reminiscent of her previous works.
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The Strong, Quiet Art of Jessamyn West
(summary)
In the following essay, John K. Hutchens praises Jessamyn West's narrative vitality and her ability to convey deep understanding and respect for her characters in her stories, while acknowledging her style may not be as immediately distinctive as other renowned authors.
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The Pathetic, the Curious, the Ironic
(summary)
In the following essay, Carlos Baker discusses Jessamyn West's ability to uniquely intertwine the pathetic, curious, and ironic in her short stories, praising her work as both entertaining and deeply moving, while acknowledging occasional over-subtlety in her narrative style.
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Many-Dimensioned Beings
(summary)
In the following essay, Harrison Smith argues that Jessamyn West's short stories, characterized by humor, tenderness, and gentle irony, stand out for their depth and human complexity, avoiding simple resolutions and showcasing her mastery in crafting engaging, well-rounded characters within compelling narratives.
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Sojourn in an Alien Land
(summary)
In the following essay, Don Mankiewicz praises Jessamyn West's To See the Dream for its remarkable technical skill and perceptive insights, highlighting the freshness and immediacy of her journal-style writing and her ability to capture and correct first impressions in a deeply engaging narrative.
- Frederic I. Carpenter
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New Books Appraised: 'Love Is Not What You Think'
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In the following essay, Eleanor T. Smith evaluates Jessamyn West's short work "Love Is Not What You Think," praising its sensitive and well-written message urging women to love actively and unselfishly while questioning its market appeal and suggesting its limited utility outside dedicated collections of West's works.
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West to Eden
(summary)
In the following essay, William Hogan critiques Jessamyn West's novel "South of the Angels" as an ambitious but overly lengthy and populated work, lacking the intimate warmth and spontaneity of her previous stories, while adeptly exploring themes of community, character, and the American pioneering spirit.
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Love's Many Faces in a Tender Tale by Jessamyn West
(summary)
In the following essay, Virgilia Peterson praises Jessamyn West's novel "South of the Angels" for its rich characterization, thematic exploration of human nature's duality, and rejection of contemporary literary trends in favor of a tender, magnanimous portrayal of the human spirit, despite acknowledging its failure to fully transcend familiar narrative tropes.
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'Stolen Hours'
(summary)
In the following essay, Bosley Crowther praises Jessamyn West's screenplay for "Stolen Hours" for introducing authentic and charming Cornish village characters, which adds depth and emotional resonance to the narrative, allowing the heroine to experience a meaningful and heartfelt conclusion to her life.
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West's 'Love, Death, and the Ladies' Drill Team
(summary)
In the following essay, Christopher G. Katope argues that the wind in Jessamyn West's story "Love, Death, and the Ladies' Drill Team" serves as a symbolic device reflecting and affecting the protagonist Emily Cooper's emotional transformation, drawing parallels to Romantic poetry, particularly Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind."
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Love and Death Under Desert Stars
(summary)
In the following essay, Charles Poore analyzes Jessamyn West's novel "A Matter of Time," highlighting its exploration of imagination's role in shaping perceptions of the past and future, and its intricate narrative structure that reveals deeper themes of life, love, and death as it unfolds.
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Avant-Garde on a Wild Frontier
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In the following essay, Charles Poore examines Jessamyn West's novel "Leafy Rivers" as a refreshing narrative of pioneer life in early America, highlighting its suspenseful storytelling and timeless exploration of young love and survival.
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Backwoods Schooling
(summary)
In the following essay, Joan Joffe Hall critiques Jessamyn West's novel Leafy Rivers for its overly tidy conclusion and contrived rural dialogue, while acknowledging the charm added by its frontier setting.
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Penitential
(summary)
In the following essay, Desmond Mac Namara argues that Jessamyn West's novel A Matter of Time addresses the complex and emotional theme of euthanasia with dignity and clarity, emphasizing the importance of personal narratives over generalizations.
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Children's Books for Spring: 'Except for Me and Thee': A Companion to 'The Friendly Persuasion'
(summary)
In the following essay, Zena Sutherland praises Jessamyn West for her portrayal of the Birdwell family in "Except for Me and Thee," highlighting the novel's warmth, authentic characters, and the author's skillful, resilient style that avoids sentimentality while depicting the pioneer tradition with affection.
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Sweet Alyssum and Bleeding Heart
(summary)
In the following essay, Carlos Baker considers Jessamyn West's novel "Except for Me and Thee" as a companion to "The Friendly Persuasion," suggesting that while it may not match the original's impact, it remains a gentle and fulfilling continuation of the Birdwells' story for enthusiastic readers.
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Men and Women at War with Their Environment
(summary)
In the following essay, Laurence Lafore commends Jessamyn West's "Crimson Ramblers of the World, Farewell" for its consistent themes and coherent exploration of human consciousness in conflict with nature, likening her style to that of Thomas Hardy, and highlighting her skillful, metaphysical storytelling.
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The Fiction of Jessamyn West
(summary)
In the following essay, John T. Flanagan argues that Jessamyn West's fiction excels in character portrayal and linguistic style, despite occasional narrative incoherence and structural issues, highlighting her adept depiction of Quaker-inspired themes, rural settings, and particularly compelling portrayals of adolescent girls and eccentric yet authentic characters.
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No Place Like Home
(summary)
In the following essay, Jean Stafford critiques Jessamyn West's "Hide and Seek," highlighting West's integration of reminiscence and contemporary commentary while expressing discomfort with her deification of nature and Thoreau's pervasive influence in the narrative.
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Solitude Always Excited Her
(summary)
In the following essay, Nancy Hale examines Jessamyn West's autobiographical work "Hide and Seek," highlighting its exploration of solitude and self-reflection through an engaging and humorous narrative that combines echoes and mirroring images to portray a woman's nuanced experience alone by the Colorado River.
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Folklore in Five Middle-western Novelists
(summary)
In the following essay, John T. Flanagan examines Jessamyn West's adept portrayal of Quaker life and folk speech in her Indiana-set novels, emphasizing her ability to make historical settings feel contemporary while highlighting her precise ear for dialect and cultural expressions.
- Elizabeth Fisher
- Agnes McNeill Donohue
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Women's Insights
(summary)
In the following essay, Nancy Hale examines Jessamyn West's novel "The Life I Really Lived," highlighting its blend of small-town realism and dream-like fiction to explore profound truths and the hidden aspects of life.
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'The Life I Really Lived'
(summary)
In the following essay, Betty S. Reardon critiques Jessamyn West's novel, "The Life I Really Lived," as overly detailed and complex, leading to a lack of clarity and engagement with the story and its characters.
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Unadulterated Purity
(summary)