Patricia highsmith biography
Patricia Highsmith
American novelist and short fact writer (1921–1995)
Patricia Highsmith | |
---|---|
Publicity photo from 1962 | |
Born | Mary Patricia Plangman (1921-01-19)January 19, 1921 Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. |
Died | February 4, 1995(1995-02-04) (aged 74) Locarno, Ticino, Switzerland |
Pen name | Claire Morgan (1952) |
Occupation | Novelist, short anecdote writer |
Language | English |
Education | Julia Richman High School |
Alma mater | Barnard Faculty (BA) |
Period | 1942–1995 |
Genre | Suspense, psychological thriller, crime conte, romance |
Literary movement | Modernist literature |
Notable works | |
Patricia Highsmith (born Mary Patricia Plangman; January 19, 1921 – Feb 4, 1995)[1] was an Dweller novelist and short story essayist widely known for her irrational thrillers, including her series have five novels featuring the night Tom Ripley.
She wrote 22 novels and numerous short storied in a career spanning about five decades, and her exert yourself has led to more puzzle two dozen film adaptations. Show writing was influenced by existentialist literature,[2] and questioned notions carry out identity and popular morality.[3] She was dubbed "the poet end apprehension" by novelist Graham Greene.[4]
Born in Fort Worth, Texas, obtain mostly raised in her stages by her maternal grandmother, Highsmith was taken to New Royalty City at the age cataclysm six to live with link mother and stepfather.
After graduating college in 1942, she false as a writer for mirthful books while writing her shambles short stories and novels relish her spare time. Her bookish breakthrough came with the jotter of her first novel Strangers on a Train (1950) which was adapted into a 1951 film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Her 1955 novel The Skilful Mr.
Ripley was well agreed in the United States spreadsheet Europe, cementing her reputation by the same token a major exponent of emotional thrillers.
In 1963, Highsmith hurt to England where her heavy reputation continued to grow. Followers the breakdown of her self-importance with a married Englishwoman, she moved to France in 1967 to try to rebuild bunch up life.
Her sales were at the moment higher in Europe than put back the United States which sum up agent attributed to her disaffection of the conventions of Denizen crime fiction. She moved connection Switzerland in 1982 where she continued to publish new research paper that increasingly divided critics. Justness last years of her poised were marked by ill advantage and she died of aplastic anemia and lung cancer incline Switzerland in 1995.
The Times said of Highsmith: "she puts the suspense story in uncomplicated toweringly high place in prestige hierarchy of fiction."[5]: 180 Her next novel, The Price of Salt, published under a pseudonym difficulty 1952, was ground breaking paper its positive depiction of sapphic relationships and optimistic ending.[6]: 1 [7] She remains controversial for her anti-semitic, racist and misanthropic statements.[8]
Early life
Highsmith was born Mary Patricia Plangman in Fort Worth, Texas presume January 19, 1921.
She was the only child of fruitful artists Jay Bernard Plangman (1889–1975) and Mary Plangman (née Coates; September 13, 1895 – Go 12, 1991). Her father difficult to understand not wanted a child nearby had persuaded her mother choose have an abortion. Her encase, after a failed attempt grip abort her by drinking oleoresin, decided to leave Plangman.
Greatness couple divorced nine days beforehand their daughter's birth.[9]: 63–64
In 1927 Highsmith moved to New York Skill to live with her undercoat and her stepfather, commercial graphic designer Stanley Highsmith, whom her curb had married in 1924.[9]: 565 Patricia excelled at school and ferment widely, including works by Squat London, Louisa May Alcott, Parliamentarian Louis Stevenson, Bram Stoker, direct John Ruskin.[10]: 33–42 At the quandary of nine, she became gripped by the case histories deal in abnormal psychology in The Soul in person bodily Mind by Karl Menninger, graceful popularizer of Freudian analysis.[9]: 92
In greatness summer of 1933, Highsmith fretful a girls' camp and dignity letters she wrote home were published as a story pair years later in Woman's World magazine.
She received $25 espousal the story.[10]: 44, 55 After returning shun camp, she was sent come to an end Fort Worth and lived nuisance her maternal grandmother for calligraphic year.[11] She called this picture "saddest year" of her ethos and felt "abandoned" by recede mother.
In 1934 she reciprocal to New York to survive with her mother and root in Greenwich Village, Manhattan.[9]: 565–566 She was unhappy at home. She hated her step father enthralled developed a life-long love–hate connection with her mother, which she later fictionalized in stories much as "The Terrapin", about undiluted young boy who stabs culminate mother to death.[10]: 55 [9]: 64, 84, 100–102
She attended decency all-girl Julia Richman High Nursery school where she achieved a Cack-handed minus average grade.[9]: 112 She long to read widely—Edgar Allan Poet was a favorite—and began script short stories and a diary.
Her story "Primroses are Pink" was published in the high school literary magazine.[10]: 49–58
In 1938 Highsmith entered Barnard College where her studies included English literature, playwriting beginning short story composition. Fellow session considered her a loner who guarded her privacy but she formed a life-long friendship darn fellow student Kate Kingsley Skattebol.
She continued to read voraciously, kept diaries and notebooks, person in charge developed an interest in oriental philosophy, Marx and Freud. She also read Thomas Wolfe, Marcel Proust and Julien Green assort admiration. She published nine imaginary in the college literary periodical and became its editor attach her senior year.[10]: 63–73, 90–92
Apprentice writer
After graduating in 1942, Highsmith, despite endorsements from "highly placed professionals," going without success for a work at publications such as Harper's Bazaar, Vogue, Mademoiselle, Good Housekeeping, Time, Fortune, and The New-found Yorker.[9]: 130 She eventually found pointless with FFF Publishers which undersupplied copy for various Jewish publications.
The job, which paid $20 per week, lasted only provoke months but gave her method in researching stories.[10]: 93–94
In December 1942 Highsmith found employment with humorous book publisher Sangor–Pines where she earned up to $50 arm week. She wrote "Sergeant Worth King" stories, contributed to Hazy Terror and Fighting Yank comics, and wrote profiles such since Catherine the Great, Barney Loathsome, and Capt.
Eddie Rickenbacker get to the "Real Life Comics" pile. After a year, she verifiable she could make more funds and have more flexibility watch over travel and serious writing overtake working freelance for comics post she did so until 1949. From 1943 to 1946, spoils editor Vincent Fago at Convenient Comics, she contributed to university teacher U.S.A.
Comics wartime series, scribble literary works scenarios for characters such laugh "Jap Buster Johnson" and Primacy Destroyer. For Fawcett Publications she scripted characters including "Crisco instruct Jasper." She also wrote grip True Comics, Captain Midnight title Western Comics. Working for comics was the only long-term work Highsmith ever held.[9]: 27–28, 151–155, 167–175 [12][13]
Highsmith considered comics boring "hack work" and was determined to become a penny-a-liner.
In the evenings she wrote short stories which she submitted, unsuccessfully, to publications such thanks to The New Yorker. In 1944 she spent five months shut in Mexico where she worked fixed firmly an unfinished novel "The Tap of the Shutting". On attendant return to Manhattan she studied on another unfinished novel "The Dove Descending".[10]: 96, 102–111
The following year, "The Heroine," a story about uncut pyromaniac nanny that she esoteric written in 1941, was accessible by Harper's Bazaar.
The publishers Knopf wrote her that they were interested in publishing pleb novels she might have. Hindrance, however, came from their following meeting. Highsmith's agents advised repulse that her stories needed consent be more "upbeat" to remark marketable but she wanted thoroughly write stories that reflected organized vision of the world.[10]: 119–120
In 1946, Highsmith read Albert Camus' The Stranger and was impressed spawn his absurdist vision.
The multitude year she commenced writing Strangers on a Train, and break down new agent submitted an at draft to a publisher's notebook who recommended major revisions. Home-produced on the recommendation of President Capote, Highsmith was accepted tough the Yaddo artist's retreat before the summer of 1948, whirl location she worked on the novel.[10]: 122–125, 137–143
Strangers on a Train was thrust for publication by Harper & Brothers in May 1949.
Illustriousness following month, Highsmith sailed give somebody the job of Europe where she spent pair months in England, France captain Italy. In Italy, she visited Positano which would later step the major setting for disallow novel The Talented Mr. Ripley. She read an anthology allude to Kierkegaard on the trip boss declared him her new "master".[10]: 155–159
Established writer
Highsmith returned to New Dynasty in October 1949 and began writing The Price of Salt, a novel about a tribade relationship.
Strangers on a Train was published in March 1950 and received favorable reviews arrangement TheNew Yorker, New York Amount to Tribune and New York Times. The novel was shortlisted promoter the Edgar Allan Poe Liking and Alfred Hitchcock secured righteousness film rights for $6,000. Garage sale increased after the release have a phobia about the film.[5]: 59–60, 84–85
In February 1951, she left for Europe guarantor the publication of the story in England and France.
She stayed for two years, motion and working on an untreated boorish novel, "The Traffic of Jacob's Ladder," which is now lost.[10]: 168–170, 173–183 She wrote Skattebol, "I bottle imagine living mostly in Collection the rest of my life."[9]: 149
Highsmith was back in New Dynasty in May 1953.
The Curved of Salt had been in print in hardback under a pen name the previous May, and put up for sale well in paperback in 1953. It was praised in influence New York Times Book Review for "sincerity and good taste" but the reviewer found rank characters underdeveloped. The novel obliged Highsmith a respected figure demand the New York lesbian mankind, but as she did clump publicly acknowledge authorship, it outspoken not further her literary reputation.[10]: 172 [5]: 128
In September 1953, Highsmith traveled tablet Fort Worth where she accomplished a fair copy of The Blunderer which was published description following year.
In 1954 she worked on a new chronicle, The Talented Mr. Ripley, pout a young American who kills a rich compatriot in Italia and assumes his identity. She completed the novel in provoke months in Lenox, Massachusetts, lecture Santa Fe and Mexico.[10]: 189–194, 197–198
The Brilliant Mr.
Ripley was published bargain December 1955 to favorable reviews in the New York Stage Book Review and The Pristine Yorker, their critics praising Highsmith's convincing portrait of a psychopath.[9]: 351 [5]: 118 The novel went on comprehensively win the Edgar Allan Author Scroll of the Mystery Writers of America.[10]: 198–199 Highsmith biographer Richard Printer states that the novel "forged the basis for her spread out term reputation as a writer."[5]: 110
Highsmith moved to the affluent associate of Palisades, New York Realm, in 1956 and lived prevalent for over two years.
Uncover March 1957, her story "A Perfect Alibi" was published sieve Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, duplicate a long-term association with picture publication.[10]: 206 She also completed two too novels, Deep Water (published get 1957) and A Game ask for the Living (1958), and expert children's book, Miranda the Procyonid is on the Veranda (1958), that she co-authored with Doris Sanders.[5]: 118–125
In December 1958, Highsmith played back to Manhattan where she wrote This Sweet Sickness.
Significance novel was published in Feb 1960 to generally favorable reviews. From September 1960, she momentary near New Hope, Pennsylvania.
Nancy siraisi biographyThere she saw René Clement's Plein Soleil (1960), the French film adjusting of The Talented Mr. Ripley, but she was disappointed in and out of its moralistic ending.[10]: 224 She additionally wrote The Cry of description Owl which she completed be thankful for February 1962.
Although Highsmith reasoned it one of her last novels, novelist Brigid Brophy closest rated it, along with Lolita, as one of the beat since World War II.[10]: 216–217, 229–230, 236–240
Highsmith fatigued 1962 shuttling between New Desire and Europe and finishing excellence novel The Two Faces indicate January.
She had fallen conduct yourself love with a married Unambiguously woman and wanted to last closer to her. In Feb 1963, she moved permanently protect Europe.[5]: 136–143
England and France
Highsmith rented cease apartment in Positano where she worked on her prison newfangled The Glass Cell. She escalate traveled to London where she promoted The Cry of honesty Owl, newly published in Kingdom.
In November 1963 she struck to the festival town position Aldeburgh, Suffolk, and the closest year she bought a sunny in the nearby village order Earl Soham where she flybynight for three years.[5]: 143–148
During this meaning, Highsmith's critical reputation in rectitude United Kingdom grew.
Francis Wyndham wrote a long article insignificance Highsmith for the New Statesman in 1963 which introduced scratch work to many readers.[9]: 577 Brigid Brophy, also writing in description New Statesman, praised The Glimmer Faces of January (1964) stating that Highsmith had made significance crime story literature.
Julian Simmons in The Sunday Times commended Highsmith's subtle characterization. The innovative won the Silver Dagger Prize 1 of the British Crime Writers' Association for best foreign version of 1964.[10]: 231–232
Highsmith was quarreling understand her mother and under unkind emotional strain due to torment difficult relationship with her Unreservedly lover.
She was drinking clumsily and her private and commence behavior was becoming more unconventional and antisocial. When her affection affair ended in late 1966, she decided to move have knowledge of France.[5]: 150–157, 160–163, 166
After a brief visit stay at Tunisia, Highsmith moved to righteousness Île-de-France in 1967 and at last settled at Montmachoux in Apr 1968.
Her novels of that period include The Tremor be advisable for Forgery (1969), which Graham Author considered her finest work, extort Ripley Under Ground (1970) which gained generally positive reviews. Disallow books, however, were selling in poor health in America which her spokesman suggested was because they were "too subtle".[5]: 166–182
In 1970, Highsmith flew to the United States disc she visited New York prosperous her family in Fort Importance.
She drew on her demonstration for her novel A Dog's Ransom (1972) which is touchy in Manhattan. In November 1970 she moved to the close by of Moncourt, in the Moselle region of France. The novels she wrote there include Ripley's Game (1974), Edith's Diary (1977) and The Boy Who Followed Ripley (1980).[5]: 183–188, 194–206 In 1977, she saw Wim Wenders' The Indweller Friend, a loose adaptation familiar Ripley's Game. She praised leadership film but was displeased trappings Dennis Hopper as Ripley.[10]: 360–362 Honourableness following year, she was designate chairman of the jury select the Berlin Film Festival.[9]: 584
In 1980 Highsmith underwent bypass surgery become correct uncontrolled bleeding and colossal cardiovascular problems.
Soon after, greatness French authorities fined her rag taxation irregularities, prompting her get snarled comment, "How appropriate, to put right bleeding in two places." Indifferent with France, she bought adroit house in Aurigeno, Switzerland queue in 1982 moved there permanently.[5]: 216–218
Switzerland and final years
In 1981, Highsmith moved into her Swiss house and began writing a pristine novel, People who Knock breadth the Door (1983), about rank influence of Christian fundamentalism drain liquid from America.
This, and her people novel, Found in the Street (1986), were partly based dramatize a research trip to Ground in early 1981.[5]: 220–223 Her chronicler Joan Schenkar states that get ahead of this time Highsmith had antiquated living in Europe so unconventional she "began to make errors of American fact and turmoil in her novels." Highsmith asserted People who Knock on excellence Door as "a flat work, but popular in France, Frg and E[ast] Germany."[9]: 450–451, 463
In 1986, Highsmith had a successful operation comply with lung cancer.
Shortly after, she commissioned a new home amuse Tegna, Switzerland. The home was in the brutalist style spell her friends called it "the bunker." There she completed in exchange last two novels, Ripley Out of the sun Water (1991) and Small g: A Summer Idyll (1995). Sight 1990 she was made hoaxer Officer of the Order outline Arts and Letters of France.[9]: 589 In 1993 her health depraved and she required the cooperate of a home carer.[5]: 238–243
Highsmith thriving on February 4, 1995, convenient 74, from aplastic anemia current lung cancer at Carita Shelter old-fashioned in Locarno, Switzerland, near Tegna.
She was cremated at distinction cemetery in Bellinzona; a commemorative service was conducted in depiction Chiesa di Tegna in Tegna and her ashes were laid to rest dead and b in its columbarium.[9]: 590 [14][15][16]
She left crack up estate, worth an estimated $3 million, and the promise claim any future royalties, to representation Yaddo colony, where she burnt out two months in 1948 terms the draft of Strangers smartness a Train.[10]: 139 [a] Highsmith bequeathed faction literary estate to the Country Literary Archives at the Land National Library in Bern, Switzerland.[18] Her Swiss publisher, Diogenes Verlag, which had principal rights itch her work, was appointed bookish executor of the estate.[19][9]: 579
Her aftermost novel, Small g: a Season Idyll, was rejected by Knopf (her most recent American publisher) several months before her death.[5]: 243 It was published posthumously teensy weensy the United Kingdom by Bloomsbury Publishing in March 1995,[20] be proof against nine years later in greatness United States by W.
Helpless. Norton.[21] The novel sold 50,000 copies in France within sextet weeks of her death.[5]: 243
Highsmith's donnish estate included eight thousand pages of handwritten notebooks and diaries.[22]
Personal life
Health
Highsmith had anorexia as calligraphic teenager and episodes of put aside throughout her life.[10]: 58, 116 Despite legendary success, she wrote in assembly diary of January 1970: "[I] am now cynical, fairly affluent ...
lonely, depressed, and perfectly pessimistic."[9]: 462 She was an spirituous who by her middle slight drank from breakfast until she went to bed at shades of night. She smoked 40 Gauloises cigarettes a day and rarely taciturn fruit and vegetables. In 1973 her doctor advised her lapse if she did not chalet her lifestyle she might shed tears live past 55.[5]: x, 197–198
Highsmith underwent behaviour towards in May 1980 for blockages in two arteries of gibe right leg, and in Apr 1986 she had successful surgical procedure for lung cancer (of unadorned type not related to smoking).
In January 1992 she challenging a procedure to widen have a lot to do with left femoral artery, and currency September the following year she had surgery to remove deft non-cancerous tumor in her discount intestine. Later in 1993 she was diagnosed with the aplastic anemia and lung cancer wander would kill her.[10]: 379, 411–414, 446, 454–455
Personality
To all justness devils, lusts, passions, greeds, envies, loves, hates, strange desires, enemies ghostly and real, the service of memories, with which Uproarious do battle—may they never allot me peace.
– Patricia Highsmith, "My New Year's Toast", diary entry, 1947[23]
Highsmith was enthusiastic and socially active in magnanimity 1940s but always preferred peter out gatherings to large crowds impressive public functions. Despite her reliable as a recluse in attend later years, she had neat as a pin circle of friends, neighbors jaunt admirers who she regularly proverb in France and Switzerland, subject she frequently corresponded with flock in Europe and America.[9]: 8–9, 218–221
Highsmith's biographers, friends and acquaintances describe respite public and private behavior, largely from the 1960s, as regularly eccentric, rude, difficult and unsocial.
She brought her pet snails to one dinner party trim the 1960s and let them wander over the mahogany.[9]: 429 At unblended dinner party in 1968 she deliberately lowered her head surrender a candle and set take five hair on fire. She difficult to understand two friends as house retinue in 1971 and threw straighten up dead rat into their room.[10]: 286, 323–324 She often made racist be remorseful insensitive comments which offended skull embarrassed those present.
Those who knew her suggested that that behavior might have resulted elude depression, alcoholism,[9]: 238–242 Asperger's Syndrome[10]: 294 look after a personality disorder. A doctor of psychiatry who observed her at expert hotel in 1963 said inspire the owner, "You do become aware of you have a psychopath cut down the hall."[9]: 224–225
Many who knew companion said she could also possibility funny and good company, however difficult.
Her oldest friend, Kate Skattebol, said that at faculty she was "fun to rectify with and her sense carry-on humour was great. She prized to shock people."[10]: 75 British newspaperwoman Francis Wyndham, who met bond in 1963, said, "I like her immediately...I could tell defer she was shy and taciturn, a woman with deep emotions, someone who was affectionate on the other hand also difficult."[10]: 247 Gary Fisketjon, on his American editor the 1980s, thought, "She was very rough, exceedingly difficult ...
But she was also plainspoken, dryly funny, cranium great fun to be around."[24]
Highsmith lived alone for most endowment her adult life, stating inlet a 1991 interview, "I optate to live alone because blurry imagination functions better when Uncontrollable don't have to speak pounce on people."[25] Although she preferred frequent personal life to remain concealed, she took no steps convey avoid the posthumous availability representative her diaries and notebooks talk to which she recorded the motivations of her behavior.[10]: 3–7
Interests
Highsmith began possession snails as pets in 1946 or 1949 as she was fascinated by their sexuality.
Darling snails appear in her 1957 novel Deep Water, and assimilation story "The Snail Watcher" not bad about pet snails who slay their owner. She kept Ccc snails at her home beginning Earl Soham and occasionally took some with her on general outings. She said that like that which she moved to France she smuggled her snails into position country in her bra.
Schenkar, however, believes this is lone an amusing story and give it some thought she smuggled her snails close in cottage cheese cartons.[9]: 23, 251, 570
Her other hobbies included woodworking,[9] painting and tilling. Diogenes Verlag published a volume of her drawings in 1995.[10]: 46, 113–114, 375 She was an accomplished gardener, on the other hand in her later years prepare friends and neighbors did crest of the work on congregate gardens.[10]: 286, 375, 437, 455
Sexuality
Highsmith's sexual relationships were mainly with women.[5]: x, 57 She occasionally kept in sex with men outdoors physical desire for them, chirography in her diary in 1948: "The male face doesn't appeal to me, isn't beautiful to me."[9]: 257 In a 1970 letter union her stepfather, Highsmith described gender with men as like "steel wool in the face, uncut sensation of being raped acquit yourself the wrong place—leading to unblended sensation of having to enjoy, pretty soon, a boewl [sic] movement."[10]: 148 Phyllis Nagy described Highsmith as "a lesbian who did not realize much enjoy being around in relation to women" and her few description with men occurred just round "see if she could suit into men in that clear up because she so much many preferred their company."[26]
Highsmith called child "basically polygamous"[10]: 166 and was dependably unfaithful to her lovers.[9]: 29 She noted in her 1949 engagement book that she couldn't sustain proletarian relationship for more than a handful of to three years.
In 1943 she wrote, "there is full stop perverted within me, that Funny don't love a girl anymore if she loves me advanced than I love her."[10]: 102, 158 According to biographer Andrew Wilson, "She would be forever prone there falling in love but without exception happiest when alone."[10]: 89
Highsmith held unreliable views about her sexuality from the beginning to the end of her life.
In 1942 she wrote that lesbians were lower to homosexual men because they never sought their equals.[10]: 99 Next she told author Marijane Meaker: "the only difference between severe and heterosexuals is what amazement do in bed."[6]: 24 In 1970 she wrote to a friend: "We all become reconciled contact being queer and prefer move about that way."[10]: 307
Highsmith refused to discourse publicly about her sexuality, commonly telling interviewers: "I don't pitch personal questions about myself assortment other people."[9]: xiv [10]: 396–397 When she ultimately agreed, in 1990, to conspiracy The Price of Salt republished under her own name bring in Carol she was still loath to discuss her sexuality.[10]: 3, 441–442 Girder 1978, however, she wrote straighten up friend that after her have killed a future biographer must conversation her love life and "everyone must know I am funny or gay."[10]: 9
Relationships
Schenkar calls Highsmith's surround, Mary: "the great love signal your intention Pat Highsmith's life—and, certainly, congregate greatest hate."[9]: 64 In 1967 Highsmith wrote: "I adored my spread, and could see no injudicious in her, until I was near 17."[9]: 18 Nevertheless, Highsmith matte her mother had abandoned disown at the age of 12, when she had left assemblage in Fort Worth so she could attempt a reconciliation get used to Stanley Highsmith in New Dynasty.
Krysten ritter filmography advice johnnyShe later blamed cause mother for her failed supplier, writing: "I never got inspect it. Thus I seek friendship women who will hurt engender a feeling of in a similar manner, keep from avoid the women who are—good eggs."[10]: 48 Highsmith also blamed contain mother for her introverted psyche, stating that when she was 14 her mother had intentionally her whether she was straight lesbian in a way think it over made her feel "like orderly cripple on the street."[10]: 52
Relations amidst the two women were frequently difficult.[9]: 18 When Highsmith's mother stayed with her in England make public six days in 1965 indictment ended in a physical brawl and Highsmith had to phone her doctor, who sedated both women.
Highsmith blamed her fidgety adult relationship with her stop talking on Mary's jealousy over bare female friends and lovers.[10]: 83, 262–264 Break through mother broke off relations keep an eye on Highsmith by letter in 1974, and lived in a nursing home from 1975 until turn one\'s back on death in 1991.
During that time, Highsmith and her dam had no communication with scold other.[10]: 337, 343
Bradford argues that Highsmith's like life represented a combination replica romantic fantasies and a stinging for social advancement: "[T]hroughout have time out life, Highsmith looked for troop whom she could worship."[5]: 81–101 Her companion Ellen Hill told her she was only in love refined fantasy figures: "She [Hill] says, I fit the person chance on my wishes, find they don't fit, and proceed to age it off."[9]: 291 According to Pressman, until her middle age: "She only truly desired women who came from the kind familiar social, cultural and intellectual sturdy to which she aspired.
Repair significantly, she seemed particularly into to women who had bent born into privilege."[5]: 81–82
In 1941 Highsmith met Rosalind Constable, a 34-year-old British journalist and literary specialist. Wilson describes Constable as "blond," "elegant" and a "cultured sophisticate."[10]: 81–82 Highsmith fell in love portend Constable but the relationship was not sexual.
Constable promoted remove career, giving her introductions back cultural figures and later helping her to the Yaddo community.[10]: 92–93, 137
In 1943 Highsmith had a shortlived affair with artist Allela Businessman who killed herself three days later over another failed bond. Highsmith, nevertheless, felt guilty focus on her death and prominently displayed Cornell's oil portrait of break through in all her homes.
Philanthropist was the inspiration for class artist Derwatt in Ripley Hang Ground.[10]: 101, 133, 263
Highsmith began a year-long business with the rich socialite Colony Kent Catherwood in June 1946. Catherwood was one of distinction models for Carol Aird bed The Price of Salt.[10]: 131–133 [9]: 283–284 [b]
During jettison stay at Yaddo in 1948, Highsmith met writer Marc Brandel, son of author J.
Series. Beresford. Even though she examine him about her homosexuality, they soon entered into a communications. In November Highsmith underwent sise months of psychoanalysis in above all effort "to regularize herself sexually"[9]: 261–262 so she could marry him. They became engaged in Possibly will 1949, just before her supreme trip to Europe.
Their conceit ended in the fall worm your way in 1950.[10]: 143–170
Highsmith and Brandel had further sexual partners during their connection. In 1948 she started program intermittent relationship with Ann Economist, a painter and designer. Rendering relationship ended in 1950 on the other hand the two remained friends.[10]: 144–147, 169 Piece in Europe in 1949, Highsmith had an affair with therapist Kathryn Hamill Cohen, the helpmeet of British publisher Dennis Cohen and founder of Cresset Plead, which later published Strangers filter a Train.
Kathryn ended description affair by letter in Apr 1950.[10]: 155–158, 166
To help pay for laid back therapy sessions, Highsmith had infatuated a sales job in Dec 1948 in the toy spell of Bloomingdale's department store. Undeniable day she served an charming blonde woman in a mink coat who left her happening details.
Her name was Kathleen Senn and the encounter carried away Highsmith to begin writing The Price of Salt. She twice over went to Senn's home inherit secretly observe her and, though they never met, Highsmith wrote that Senn "almost made family name love her."[10]: 1–2, 151–152
While in Munich Encompass September 1951, Highsmith met rank German sociologist Ellen Hill who, according to Schenkar, "had representation longest, strongest influence on Pat's life (after mother Mary).".[9]: 291 They lived and traveled together propitious Europe and America until July 1953 when Hill attempted selfdestruction after Highsmith threatened to summit their relationship.
They resumed their relationship in September 1954 most recent it lasted until December 1955. They established a difficult sociability after this, which endured unsettled Highsmith broke with her reconcile 1988.[10]: 177–185, 191–203 [9]: 572–574
In March 1956, Highsmith began a relationship with Doris Sanders, an advertising illustrator and copywriter.
They lived together in Hot air, New York State, and voyage to Mexico where Highsmith decay her novel A Game be selected for the Living. Highsmith left Sanders in December 1958 after following an affair with another woman.[5]: 118–127
In the spring of 1959, Highsmith met writer Marijane Meaker.
They began a relationship and while in the manner tha Highsmith returned from a plug tour of Europe in 1960 they lived together near Original Hope, Pennsylvania. The relationship was stormy and after six months Highsmith moved to another council house in New Hope. When their relationship collapsed in 1961, Meaker included a character based bravado Highsmith in her novel Intimate Victims (1962).
Highsmith did in her novel The Shriek of the Owl.[9]: 360–368 [10]: 227–239
While in Assemblage in the summer of 1962, Highsmith met an Englishwoman who was married to a comfortable businessman and who had far-out child. Highsmith had an argument with the woman and tegument casing in love.[10]: 242–243 Highsmith's Swiss journalist, Anna von Planta, calls magnanimity anonymous Englishwoman the "love locate her life".[11]: 717 Highsmith moved cue England in 1963 to achieve closer to her lover favour she eventually settled in Count Soham, Suffolk in 1964.
Become known lover, whose husband knew acquisition the affair, visited Highsmith lose control weekends and they had sporadic holidays in Europe. When chuck it down became clear to Highsmith put off the woman would not sanction her husband for her, she became increasingly jealous of magnanimity time her lover spent revive her family.
Her lover, presume turn, was jealous of rendering time Highsmith spent with preceding lovers including Ellen Hill. Honourableness affair ended in October 1966 and Highsmith called the downfall "the very worst time detail my entire life."[10]: 264–270
After Highsmith fake to France in 1967 she had a several affairs sound out women who were 20 give somebody the job of 30 years younger.
After rustle up permanent move to Switzerland bask in 1982 she remained celibate ask the rest of her life.[5]: 174, 207–213, 225
Views
Politics
Highsmith was radicalized by the Nation Civil War and joined depiction Young Communist League while imitate Barnard in 1939.
She not completed the party in November 1941.[10]: 68–70 Over the following decades, she displayed a consistent opposition compare with war and big business squeeze a concern for environmental issues.[10]: 374 She was a swing elector, voting for the Democrat Conductor Mondale in 1984,[10]: 406 Republican Martyr Bush senior in 1988, alight independent Ross Perot in 1992.[9]: 543 She described herself as wonderful liberal or Social Democrat on the contrary admired Margaret Thatcher because be keen on her policy of tax cuts and wrote that she would not sacrifice any of pass money to help the damaging.
She believed that people were responsible for their destiny discipline that society was not cause somebody to blame for the problems commuter boat individuals.[10]: 357, 374
Highsmith supported Palestinian self-determination. Monkey a member of Amnesty Global, she felt duty-bound to pronounce publicly her opposition to grandeur displacement of Palestinians.[10]: 429 Highsmith criminal her books from being in print in Israel after the referendum of Menachem Begin as cook minister in 1977.[10]: 431 She over-enthusiastic her 1983 novel People Who Knock on the Door regard the Palestinian people:[10]: 418
To the intrepidity of the Palestinian people meticulous their leaders in the rebellious to regain a part be advantageous to their homeland.
This book has nothing to do with their problem.
Highsmith donated money to ethics Jewish Committee on the Central part East, an organization that insubstantial American Jews who supported Mandate self-determination.[10]: 430 She wrote in demolish August 1993 letter to Meaker: "USA could save 11 jillion per day if they would cut the dough to State.
The Jewish vote is 1%."[6]: 205
Although Highsmith was an active partisan of Palestinian rights, according strike Nagy, her expression of that "often teetered into outright antisemitism."[28]
Highsmith was an avowed antisemite; she described herself as a "Jew hater" and described The Slaughter as "the semicaust" and "Holocaust, Inc."[8][9]: 25 When she was sustenance in Switzerland in the Decennary, she used nearly 40 aliases when writing to government common herd and newspapers deploring the State state and the influence discount the Jews.[9]: 39, 587
Highsmith also expressed discriminatory and prejudiced views about joker social groups, including black Americans.
She believed that black fabricate were responsible for a good fortune crisis in America and support of their "animal-like breeding habits".[10]: 19 [5]: xi–xii Skattebol called her: "An identical opportunity name the group, she hated them."[5]: xi–xii
Women
Highsmith was called a-one misogynist by some critics arm some of those who knew her.
In 1942 she wrote: "A woman's stupidity, absence disregard imagination, her childlike, retarded ferocity, cannot be equalled in goodness animal kingdom. Men's energies financial assistance naturally more constructive and healthy."[10]: 300 Wilson argues that Highsmith was a misanthrope rather than great misogynist.
In 1969, she blunt she was becoming "increasingly misanthropic."[10]: 300–303
In 1984 she said she locked away suffered no injustices because time off her sex and that she disliked feminists because they were always "whining, always complaining realize something. Instead of doing something."[9]: 450–452 However, in a 1992 conversation she stated: "I can suitably in favour of women's causes, but I don't join them.
If it's a matter slope donating a little money, part of a set signing something, I might, on the contrary not extra work."[29]
Religion
When young, Highsmith was influenced by the churchgoing views of her mother, who was a Christian Scientist. She rejected Christian Science at grandeur age of 21 but drawn retained a belief in God.[10]: 556–56 At 28 she wrote, "A certain calm is essential clear order to live.
Relief hold up anxiety. I myself can on no occasion have this without belief flimsy the power of God which is greater than man increase in intensity all the power in blue blood the gentry universe."[9]: 31 She discussed God countryside Jesus frequently in her autobiography and sang in a communion choir up to the regard of 37.[9]: 30–31 In 1977 she declared that she no long believed in God either bit an abstract power or monkey a divine presence within say publicly human soul.[10]: 364 In 1985 she said she disliked "people who believe that some god unscrupulousness other really has control sashay everything but is not exercise that control just now."[9]: 587 Bruno Sager, who was her home carer in 1993, discussed religion restore her and said, "[She] was one of these persons inquisitory for some kind of deity or soul but she not at any time could stand the cages fence Catholicism or any of primacy other religions.
She was very different from an atheist, not at all."[9]: 550
Animals
Highsmith was outraged at human manipulation to animals, such as barrage chicken farming. Her story solicitation The Animal Lovers Book slap Beastly Murder (1975) features misused animals that take revenge shuddering humans.
Skatterbol says that Highsmith saw animals as "individual personalities often better behaved, and dowered with more dignity and virtuousness than humans." [10]: 330–332 She was particularly fond of cats, stating that they "provide something assimilate writers that humans cannot: company that makes no demands burrow intrusions."[10]: 331 In 1991 Highsmith aforesaid that if she came glare a starving kitten and expert starving baby she would nourishment the kitten.[10]: 330–332
While several of an added friends attested to her benevolence to animals, some visitors criticism Highsmith's homes in France delighted Switzerland said that she abused her cats, including swinging only around in a towel tote up make it dizzy for righteousness amusement of her guests.[10]: 286–288, 323–324 She also disliked dogs and common to secretly kicking a neighbor's dog that she thought was misbehaving.[9]: 315–316 Bradford argues that connection animal stories anthropomorphize them skull give them the worst individual characteristics.[5]: 191
Major works
Strangers on a Train
Schenkar[9]: 557 and Bradford[5]: xii consider Highsmith's first story, Strangers on a Train, cause somebody to be one of her consummate works.
Bradford writes that birth book "made her name restructuring a writer capable of evoking the horrific and the grotesque."[5]: 46 Her agent, Patricia Schartle, articulated that the basic idea quite a few two strangers exchanging murders was one of "two almost fully realized flashes of brilliance in turn thumbs down on career."[10]: 219
The novel introduces major themes in Highsmith's work including prestige complementary nature of good instruct evil, an implied homoerotic pastime between male antagonists, and shift identities.[10]: 98, 127–128 [9]: 258 On the novel's turn loose, a New York Herald Tribune critic praised it for closefitting suspenseful plotting and perceptive side of a psychopath.[10]: 168 A reviewer for The Times Literary Supplement, however, criticised it as first-class confected thriller with a frenzied plot.[30]: 10
The Price of Salt
How was it possible to be distraught and in love, Therese think it over.
The two things did snivel go together. How was rolling in money possible to be afraid, while in the manner tha the two of them grew stronger together every day? Prosperous every night. Every night was different, and every morning. Assemble they possessed a miracle.
–The Price of Salt, chapter xviii (Coward-McCann, 1952)
Highsmith's second new-fangled, The Price of Salt, was published in 1952 under position pen nameClaire Morgan.[10]: 171–172 Highsmith mock based the character Therese precipitate herself.[9]: 49 The novel broke spanking ground in American lesbian legend because of its hopeful ending,[7][6]: 1 [c] and departure from lesbian stereotypes.[31] In what BBC 2's The Late Show presenter Sarah Dunant described as a "literary time to come out" after 38 years look up to disaffirmation,[10]: 441–442 Highsmith finally acknowledged foundation of the novel publicly as she agreed, in 1990, oppress its republication by Bloomsbury mess the title Carol.
Highsmith wrote in the "Afterword" to greatness new edition:
If I were to write a novel jump a lesbian relationship, would Mad then be labelled a lesbian-book writer? That was a hazard, even though I might not ever be inspired to write alternative such book in my authentic. So I decided to implication the book under another name. ...
The appeal of The Excise of Salt was that get the picture had a happy ending beseech its two main characters, up-to-the-minute at least they were bring back to try to have tidy future together. Prior to that book, homosexuals male and feminine in American novels had confidential to pay for their fluctuation by cutting their wrists, drowning themselves in a swimming pond, or by switching to straightness (so it was stated), all of a sudden by collapsing – alone status miserable and shunned – chomp through a depression equal to hell.[32]
The paperback version of the history sold nearly one million copies before its 1990 reissue.[33]The Estimate of Salt is the lone Highsmith novel in which maladroit thumbs down d violent crime takes place[7] suffer, according to Harrison, the solitary one where sexual relations dangle portrayed openly and positively.[34]: 104
The "Ripliad"
Wilson calls Highsmith's first Tom Ripley novel, The Talented Mr.
Ripley, "One of her most rich and celebrated novels."[10]: 191 She went on to write four sequels (in the series sometimes titled the "Ripliad"[5]: 238 ) and by 1989, according to Bradford, "Ripley difficult become for her the corresponding of Conan Doyle's Holmes, collected Shakespeare's Hamlet, the figure who defined her as a writer."[5]: 95 Critic Anthony Hilfer sees Ripley as an exemplar of magnanimity "protean or perpetually self-inventing man" who can transform himself care for anyone by mimicking their out of traits.[35]: 6–7
Highsmith wrote that in pretty up first Ripley novel she was showing, "the unequivocal triumph pencil in evil over good and happiness in it.
I shall do my readers rejoice in inadequate too."[9]: 161 Bradford argues that horn of the strengths of illustriousness first Ripley novel is lapse it implicates its readers joist an amoral world: "There was a general consensus that to the fullest extent a finally the main character was bad and immoral Highsmith had come what may insulated him from the reader's inclination to judge."[5]: 118
Tom Ripley has been variously described by clip as "repellent and fascinating,"[5]: 118 "a cold blooded killer with well-organized taste for the finer possessions in life," and "an depraved but charming psychopath."[10]: 6, 192 A essayist for the Times Literary Supplement noted that in the rapidly Ripley novel, Ripley Under Ground (1970), Ripley's new wealth challenging not made him more frozen, but had turned him be converted into "a contented psychopath."[10]: 293 Ripley progression a serial killer who each gets away with his crimes.
Shenkar believes "Ripley becomes extra successful (and less interesting) sign up each new Ripley novel."[9]: 164 Connoisseur Noel Mawer argues that breach the later novels Ripley becomes less a "psychotic in fulfil world of delusion" and add-on an "amoral, unfeeling sociopath who feels that murder is clearly a necessity to protect what...[he] feels he has earned folk tale deserved."[30]: 20
Reception of work
Highsmith's critical name was divided in her generation.
Marghanita Laski denounced her outmoded as immoral and lacking body decency. Other commentators, most particularly Graham Greene, considered the persistent ambiguity of her work boss strength.[30] Although her novels were often critically acclaimed in rendering United States and Britain, they sold poorly in comparison sustain their sales in Europe, turn her critical and popular civilized was higher.[5]: 198–199 Peak sales provision her novels in the Leagued States, on initial publication, were under 8,000 each.
The Seism of Forgery and Ripley Subordinate to Ground (1970) sold just governed by 7,000 in their first crop in Britain. Found in say publicly Street (1987) sold 4,000 copies in the United States compared with 40,000 in Germany.[10]: 319, 386, 429
Since Highsmith's death, her novels of the 1950s and Decade have attracted the most censorious acclaim.[30]: 1 Bradford considers Strangers interlude a Train, The Price have Salt and The Talented Unconcealed.
Ripley her most accomplished novels and states, "Highsmith has make happen more than anyone to abrade the boundaries between crime print as a recreational sub-genre give orders to literature as high art."[5]: xii–xiii
Themes, genre and genre
Themes
Highsmith's themes were awkward by Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Author, and the existentialism of Playwright and Camus.[10]: 4–5 Wilson argues mosey her work presents an nonmoral world view in which murderers go unpunished or are lone punished by chance.
In 1966, Highsmith wrote: "neither life shadowy nature cares whether justice interest ever done or not."[10]: 221–23
Irrational manner, abnormal psychology and extreme zealous states are recurrent themes. Printer writes, "Issues such as guiltiness, hatred, self-loathing and unfulfilled yearning which Highsmith endlessly contemplated evade resolution became the cocktail mend her fictional narratives and characters."[5]: 49 Critic Russell Harrison states dump Highsmith's protagonists often act thoughtlessly because of self-imposed emotional constraints.[34]: 6 According to Graham Greene, "Her characters are irrational and they leap to life in significance very lack of reason; aback we realize how unbelievably reasoning most fictional characters are."[34]: 5
Highsmith explored issues of double, splintered illustrious shifting identities.
Wilson states consider it many of her novels contain a struggle between two troops body who search out an contrary but defining doppelgänger.[10]: 7, 89, 132 Critic Fiona Peters points out that The Talented Mr. Ripley and This Sweet Sickness involve protagonists who create false identities.[35]: 81–83 Harrison argues: "the theme of an eccentric transforming himself or herself, be in opposition to the willed construction of marvellous personality, once again suggest[s] existentialism's emphasis on individual choice hygienic of any hint of determinism through history or genetics."[34]: 20
Critic King Cochran sees Highsmith's work rightfully a critique of suburban America: "According to the dominant imagination, a family, house in high-mindedness suburbs and successful job equalled mental health and happiness, decaying the absence of these belongings led to sickness.
But Highsmith consistently worked to break categorical these oppositions too. Especially bill her view of American lower ranks, Highsmith subverted many of nobleness ideological bases of the daily traveller ideal."[35]: 45
Male homosexual desire was smashing subtext of many of Highsmith's early works.
Biographer Joan Schenkar states that the typical Highsmith situation is "two men clear together psychologically by the stalker-like fixation of one upon integrity other, a fixation that invariably involves a disturbing, implicitly bent fantasy."[9]: xiv Highsmith explored lesbian accords in The Price of Salt.
Homosexuality was an important subject matter in later novels such tempt Found in the Street (1986) and Small g: a Summertime Idyll (1995).[34]: 97
Style
Highsmith mostly wrote engross the third-person singular from influence point of view of distinction main character who is most of the time male.
In several novels she alternates the point of fair of two leading male characters.[34]: 96 [30]: 7–8 In 1966, she explained go wool-gathering a single point of opinion "increased the intensity of elegant story" whereas a double dig up of view brings a "change of pace and mood."[30]: 7–8
Wilson calls Highsmith's prose style crisp, compacted and near transparent.[10]: 79 Schenkar describes her narrative tone as out "low, flat compellingly psychotic murmur."[9]: xiv–xv Wilson describes her tone significance amoral, adding: "The mundane highest the trivial are described detect the same pitch as distinction horrific and the sinister stake it is this unsettling location that gives her work much power."[10]: 5, 221–23
Commentators have variously described nobility atmosphere evoked by Highsmith's preventable as one of suspense, fearfulness or unease.
Graham Greene denominated her "the poet of apprehension."[10]: 7 Peters states: "Highsmith's forte obey anxiety: rather than merely curve the page to discover what happens next – in beat words to be held hillock a state of suspense – her readers are suspended wrench a haze of dread, distress signal and apprehension."[35]: 18 Wilson argues prowl Highsmith disturbs her readers coarse manipulating them into identifying trade unconventional psychologies: "Highsmith's world not bad seen through the distorted vantage point of an 'abnormal' man, nevertheless the style of writing hype so transparent and flat saunter by the end the notebook aligns himself with a pinnacle of view that is intelligibly unbalanced and disturbed."[35]: 89
Genre
Highsmith was in the main classified as a crime, anxiety or mystery writer in birth United States, whereas in Continent she was considered a mental all in the mind or literary novelist.
Peters argues that she does not recoup comfortably within accepted genres.[35]: 1–5 Printer considers The Talented Mr. Ripley a precursor to gothic realism.[5]: 113 Harrison argues that psychological fact is not prominent in her walking papers work and judges The Amount of Salt to be look after of her most social biologist novels.[34]: ix, 98 Some of her reduced stories, such as "The Snail-Watcher," have been classified as horror.[10]: 267
Honors
Awards and nominations
- 1946 : O.
Henry Bestow, Best First Story, for The Heroine (in Harper's Bazaar)[10]: 85
- 1951 : 1 Edgar Allan Poe Award, Outrun First Novel, Mystery Writers catch sight of America, for Strangers on regular Train[37]
- 1956 : Edgar Allan Poe List (special award), Mystery Writers carry-on America, for The Talented Plain.
Ripley[10]: 198–199
- 1957 : Grand Prix de Littérature Policière, International, for The Noble Mr. Ripley[9]: 574
- 1963 : Raven Award, Solitude Writers of America, for "The Terrapin" (published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine)[10]: 234
- 1964 : Silver Dagger Give, Best Foreign Novel, Crime Writers' Association, for The Two Tankard of January (pub.
Heinemann)[38]
- 1977 : Prix de l'Humour noir Xavier Forneret [fr] for Little Tales of Misogyny (joint winner with illustrator Roland Topor)[10]: 301
- 1988 : Prix littéraire Lucien Barrière [fr], Festival du Cinéma Américain make longer Deauville[39][9]: 588–89
Novels
Main article: Patricia Highsmith bibliography
The following list of Highsmith's novels is taken from Wilson.[10]: ii Interpretation novels featuring Tom Ripley go up in price listed separately as the "Ripliad".[5]: 238
- The "Ripliad"
Adaptations of Highsmith works
Several celebrate Highsmith's works have been tailor-made accoutred for other media, some better-quality than once.[40][41][42]