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My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell
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My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell Hardback - 2002

by Alec Wilkinson

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Summary

At twenty-four, Alec Wilkinson decided that he wanted to write, so his father asked for the help of his closest friend, William Maxwell, widely regarded as one of the twentieth century's great American writers and an editor of fiction for forty years at The New Yorker. MY MENTOR is the story of a young man's education at the hands of a master and a heartbreaking meditation on the brave, graceful end of Maxwell's long and happy life - he died at ninety-one, in July 2000. Making use of biography, memoir, and essay, and writing in a lapidary but intimate voice, Wilkinson explores the deeply resonant friendship between the old man and the young one. His experience with Maxwell over the course of twenty-five years he takes as the occasion for a profound and moving reflection on writing, wisdom, fatherhood, love, courage, dignity, and the end that awaits us all.

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From the publisher

At twenty-four, Alec Wilkinson decided that he wanted to write, so his father asked for the help of his closest friend, William Maxwell, widely regarded as one of the twentieth century's great American writers and an editor of fiction for forty years at The New Yorker. MY MENTOR is the story of a young man's education at the hands of a master and a heartbreaking meditation on the brave, graceful end of Maxwell's long and happy life - he died at ninety-one, in July 2000. Making use of biography, memoir, and essay, and writing in a lapidary but intimate voice, Wilkinson explores the deeply resonant friendship between the old man and the young one. His experience with Maxwell over the course of twenty-five years he takes as the occasion for a profound and moving reflection on writing, wisdom, fatherhood, love, courage, dignity, and the end that awaits us all.

Details

  • Title My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell
  • Author Alec Wilkinson
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 192
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Houghton Mifflin, U.s.a.
  • Publication date 2002-04-04
  • ISBN 9780618123018 / 0618123016
  • Weight 0.7 lbs (0.32 kg)
  • Dimensions 8.32 x 5.32 x 0.74 in (21.13 x 13.51 x 1.88 cm)
  • Category Biography / Autobiography
  • Library of Congress subjects Authors, American - 20th century, Editors - United States
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2001051882
  • Dewey Decimal Code B

Media reviews

"A loving, vivid memoir of a lovely man, whose spirit still touches those who knew him, and those who read him." -- John Updike

" [My Mentor is] an immersion in the virtues of wit, decency, justice, profound imagination and the mysteries of love and loyalty."--Reynolds Price

"[B]eautiful, exact, significant prose . . . a permanent meditation on fathers and sons, on apprenticeship, and , above all, on loss."--Adam Gopnik

"Elegant, engrossing, and soulful. Alec Wilkinson writes with more intensity and dedication than just about anyone."--Ian Frazier

"[MY MENTOR is a] brilliant and affecting masterwork.  I can't think of another memoir to match its selfless candor and lyric grace."--Patricia Hampl

"An instance of human trust and connection, of enduring wisdom generously offered and gratefully received." -- Robert Coles
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My Mentor : A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

My Mentor : A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

by Alec Wilkinson

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9780618123018 / 0618123016
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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2002. Hardcover. As New. Disclaimer:Pages are clean and are not marred by notes or folds of any kind. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell
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My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

by Alec Wilkinson

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Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780618123018 / 0618123016
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My Mentor : A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell
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My Mentor : A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

by Wilkinson, Alec

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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Used - Very Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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My Mentor : A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell
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My Mentor : A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

by Wilkinson, Alec

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780618123018 / 0618123016
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Description:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Used - Very Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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A$16.48
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My Mentor : A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell
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My Mentor : A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

by Wilkinson, Alec

  • Used
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780618123018 / 0618123016
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Description:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Used - Very Good. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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My Mentor : A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell
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My Mentor : A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

by Wilkinson, Alec

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780618123018 / 0618123016
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Description:
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Used - Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell
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My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

by Wilkinson, Alec

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HOUGHTON MIFFLIN HARCOURT, 2002-04-04. First Edition. hardcover. Used: Good. 5.25x1.00x8.25. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
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My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell
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My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

by Wilkinson, Alec

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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2002-04-04. First Edition. hardcover. Good. 7.7X4.7X0.4. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
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My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

by MAXWELL, William

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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2002. Bound in maroon boards the show 2 pin hole size white areas to front panel & is in otherwise near-fine condition; as is the dustwrapper. 179 pgs.. First Edition. Hard Cover. Near Fine/Near Fine. 8 1/2" X 5 1/2".
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My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell
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My Mentor: A Young Man's Friendship with William Maxwell

by Wilkinson, Alec

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Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. 1st. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 179 pages. Hardcover. Very clean inside and out. Gilt title on spine. Dust jacket unclipped. Record # 30638
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