The Birdcage Archives

Thursday 10 July 2014

Beautiful Shadow: A Life of Patricia Highsmith

Hello Gentle Reader

There is a resurgence of interest, in the work of Patricia Highsmith; the grandmother and dame of the psychological thriller. There is also a renewed interest into the authors, life as well. In a sense it started back in nineteen-ninety nine, with the release of “The Talented Mister Ripley,” staring Matt Damon and Jude Law. However the film failed to stir interest in the author, to any intensity. Yet Highsmith had come back to haunt the literary world once again in two-thousand and three; with Andrew Wilson’s biography of Patricia Highsmith: “Beautiful Shadow: a Life of Patricia Highsmith.” Six years later, Joan Schenkar published her enormously detailed biography of Highsmith titled: “The Talented Miss Highsmith: The Secret Life and Serious Art of Patricia Highsmith.” Now adaptations of Highsmith’s works are back in circulation. In May of two-thousand and fourteen, “The Two Faces of January,” an adaption of Highsmith’s nineteen-sixty four novel, with the same name, will be released. “Carol,” an adaption of Highsmith’s complicated, lesbian romance novel, is also in production. “Carol,” which was originally published as: “The Price of Salt,” under the pseudonym Claire Morgan, is famous for being the first work of fiction, that deals with homosexual love, and ends on a happy note. Virago has also just recently released Highsmith’s novels in ebook format; and three of Highsmith’s novels: “The Glass Cell,” “A Suspension of Mercy,” and “Those Who Walk Away,” will be released with new introductions by her most recent biographer Joan Schenkar. There is also a play staring the author as a character, that will be performed at the Geffen Playhouse, written by the Australian playwright Joanna Murray-Smith; and titled “Switzerland,” will be a part of the twenty-fourteen and twenty-fifteen season.

Patricia Highsmith is not well known. She is not held to the same popular acclaim like that of other crime writers: Raymond Chandler, Agatha Christie, or Arthur Conan Doyle. My experience in asking if someone has heard of Patricia Highsmith is that they will generally answer: ‘no.’ if you care to infer the question further, by adding: ‘she’s the author of: “The Talented Mister Ripley,”’ then people will say they have heard of the novel. The work of Highsmith – especially the character of Thomas ‘Tom,’ Ripley; have gone on to overshadow the woman that had written them. Highsmith is often lumped in with crime fiction – which the author had an ambivalent relationship with. Her style may have been blunt, flat, and incredibly straightforward; yet there was no denying her literary influences: Kafka, Dostoevsky, Camus and Henry James. Though her brilliance as a writer, in tackling subjects, such as: guilt, identity, displacement, sexuality – all in her signature cold, clammy, claustrophobic world of, apprehension and uncertainty; populated by amoral characters; had garnered her respect. Most of that respect though, came from Europe. A place that Highsmith had made her adopted home, for the last thirty-two years of her life. As for her status in America; Highsmith held cult status.
One publisher had gone on to tell Patricia Highsmith the news that, she was not all that popular in America because none of her characters were likeable. In cantankerous fashion Highsmith fired back: “Maybe it’s because I don’t like people.” Truth be told, Patricia Highsmith’s world was a world filled with irrationality and existential crises. Her most famous creation is an amoral conman. In the eyes of Patricia Highsmith, murder was just as much a mundane act, as ironing ones clothes. Which is why, an ironing press in a hotel room, could easily be imagined, as a torture device in her mind.

When describing to a friend, who Patricia Highsmith was, they were delighted in her eccentricities. The fact that she brought a handbag of snails to a dinner party, so she had someone to talk to; and according to an article/story; when the conversation died down to a pause, she would plop snails on to the table from her purse, and allow them to crawl around. This dear friend of mine, even went on to declare that if Patricia Highsmith were around today, and lived closer by, that she would be someone worth associating with. However, as Highsmith new best, it’s not all fun and games in life. She was no different. She had a fierce dependency to alcohol. To call her an uncomfortable lesbian, who did not particularly like women, would be considered an understatement. To call her a misogynist – would not be entirely true either. She had a severe stance in regards to the Jewish population and to Israel. To call her anti-Semitic; would be a rather honest statement. She was liberal; but also racist. Highsmith would rather chain smoke then eat. To be alone and lonely, was a much better option than being surrounded by people, and suffering through the verbal spitfire of: chit chat. She thought of her own gender as dirty. The thought of women in libraries, disgusted her; as they could be reading and menstruating at the same time. Despite her eccentricities; and her less then appealing traits; she had her redeemable qualities. She had a sense of humour; though it was black. In fact her short story collection: “Little Tales of Misogyny,” was more satirical then it was misogynistic. She was an avid gardener. Though some say it was rather disorganized. She loved animals. Patricia enjoyed the company of animals over people. She even had a language that she spoke to her cats in; a peculiar trait, which many were not quite sure how to take; much like her sense of humour; or her abrupt honesty. Still this did not deter my friend from Highsmith; and at the moment is enjoying my copy of her other biography: “The Talented Miss Highsmith: The Secret Life and Serious Art of Patricia Highsmith.”

When I had first read Patricia Highsmith’s biography – the two-thousand and nine edition; by Joan Schenkar; admittedly I was frightened by what I read. Highsmith at the time appeared: cruel, misanthropic, guarded, jaded, and incredibly lonely. Patricia Highsmith was lonely, and unhappy. However Highsmith did experience, moments of intense joy. Yet over time that joy just petered out; or was ended on rather harsh terms. After these moments of joy and love; Highsmith would then experience depressions. Later in life, Highsmith’s only joy was her work. Without her writing, Highsmith’s life would have been unmanageable. What she would have done; from murder to suicide; is not clear. Though it is thankful she had her writing to turn to. Something that kept her occupied; and offered her a purpose; to an otherwise troubled life.

Her former American publisher Otto Penzler has been outright and forthcoming in his opinion of Patricia Highsmith:

“She was a mean, cruel, hard, unlovable, unloving human being. I could never penetrate how any human being could be that relentlessly ugly”

That being said:

“[ . . . ] But her books? Brilliant.”

Now on my second attempt at getting re-acquainted with Highsmith, there was less trepidation; and certainly there was no naïve anticipation. Opening the book I decided to keep an objective air; and hope to rekindle, something that was lost, in the first time that I had read a Highsmith biography. I was well aware the first time, around that Highsmith was relentless in her opinions; especially those in regards to her views on Jews and Israel. I was also well aware, that she was a chain smoking anorexic, misanthrope alcoholic. There could be no punches pulled this time. Yet hopefully the second time around, I hoped that I would not see so much in common with Highsmith. Though upon discussing some of Highsmith’s traits with my friend; it was clear, we held some interesting similarities. A displeasure in regards to overcrowded and large parties; a somewhat (though Highsmith’s was far more acerbic then mine) barbed tongue; a sense of humour – though Highsmith’s was far more macabre. Thankfully I can count that our differences between us is far greater than our similarities. That being said when invited to dinner parties, I have been advised to bring snails, as company.

What might surprise a lot of people of this biography – which is written in a more traditional manner in regards to a biography; is how hot blooded Highsmith was. In her later years, she was a cold fish. Many people choose to remember, the persona that they had seen. The irritable, crotchety, old miser of a woman. Yet in her younger years, Highsmith was an anxious self-conscious child. She looked always uncertain, when facing a camera. Still as she got older, she was still shy, but was always on prowl for love. Though the often ended in disaster as they had started in intense passion. One of her former lovers; committed suicide by drinking nitric acid. Highsmith in the beginning blamed herself, for the death. Though she often placed the portrait, that her lover (an artist) had done for her, in prominent place in her home.

Tragedy however bestowed a total stranger, who Highsmith was infatuated with. Kathleen Senn, came into Bloomingdale’s toy department, to buy a trinket for her children, one Christmas season. The young Patricia Highsmith, served Mrs. Senn, and became interested in the woman, after their brief transaction. Highsmith stocked this woman, feeling a joyful guilt in it. However Patricia Highsmith never learned the fate that awaited her inspiration for her novel “The Price of Salt,” or “Carol.” Kathleen Senn committed suicide. Highsmith never learned the fate of her inspiration.

These are just two examples of the lives Highsmith entered – one prominently; the other in an undercurrent almost shadowy appearance. Despite her desire to love; and her enjoyment in loving, and being loved, Highsmith continually fell in love and harder out of it. For Highsmith love and resentment occupied the same place, on the emotional spectrum. After continual broken and unmade beds, left in her wake; it is no wonder that Highsmith eventually lived a lonely and displaced life.

Patricia Highsmith lived a rather turbulent life. Her relationships, at times were just barely tolerated. She loved and hated her own mother – who had attempted to abort her with turpentine. She had resented her stepfather Stanley Highsmith; who was a timid man, and had no real quality worth admiring. Her childhood was described as: ‘a little hell.’ She hated her family; and after her death left nothing to any of them. Her archives were left to the Swiss Literary Archives; and her entire estate was left to the artist and writers retreat Yaddo. Still those that new Highsmith, stated she was shy, but tender, that she was honest, and had a great sense of humour; but also generous and a good friend. I think that those that took the time to get to know Patricia Highsmith, often discovered, the woman that she did her best to hide. One of Highsmith’s mannerisms was to hide behind the bangs of her hair; only furthering, the opinion that many had of her girlish shyness; or the debilitating shyness that plagued her.

After reading Andrew Wilson’s well put together biography in the company of Joan Schenkar’s biography; I can safely say that I look to Patricia Highsmith, not as a foreshadowing being, of what I may one day become; but rather I look at Patricia Highsmith as a contradictory, complicated person; and as a dear old friend. Highsmith was someone, who had loved, and had been loved – though it did not always work out. She was a survivor through and through. Despite the adversities in her life, she always came out – in a reasonable manner; on top. Highsmith might be overlooked as a writer – and as a writer of simple crime fiction; over time it may be seen, that she psychologically, vivisected the human psyche in regards to guilt; and the finer qualities of bad behavior. In time her work will prove to have straddled the line between crime fiction and mainstream fiction. “Edith’s Diary,” is the prime example. Still in my opinion Patricia Highsmith is far more fascinating as a person then she was a writer. In the future when discussing her with friends and strangers – especially at dinner parties; I’ll be sure to bring out snails, and reiterate the story of Highsmith, and her fascinating relationship with her gastropod friends.

Thank-you For Reading Gentle Reader
Take Care
And As Always
Stay Well Read
*And Remember: Downloading Books Illegally is Thievery and Wrong.*

M. Mary

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