William Wright (author)
Encyclopedia
William Wright is an American author, editor and playwright. He is best known for his non fiction writing covering a wildly divergent list of subjects: from the April in Paris Ball to genetics and behavior to true crime and grand opera.
Frank Rich
wrote a highly favorable review of Wrights book Lillian Hellman, the Image and the Woman: “Mr. Wright seems an unlikely candidate to sort out the [Lillian] Hellman story. As it happens, he possesses an essential attribute that more passionate writers who either loved or reviled his subject do not: he really is an objective observer.”
The great Harvard naturalist and author, E. O. Wilson
, said of Wright’s Born that Way, Genes, Behavior, Personality: “It takes an independent writer and free spirit to tell the story straight, and thank God Wright has done it.”
In addition to Lillian Hellman, the Image and the Woman, Wright’s books include The Von Bulow Affair, and two books with and about Luciano Pavarotti
: Pavarotti, My Own Story and Pavarotti, My World.
and earned his B.A. at Yale University
. In the U.S. Army, he completed training in Chinese at the Language School in Monterey, California and served as an Army translator and interpreter in Japan, Okinawa and on the USS Oriskany.
when it was located in Philadelphia and published the likes of John Steinbeck, V.S. Pritchett and Lawrence Durrell. When Holiday became a casualty of the Curtis Publishing Company’s disintegration, Wright accepted a bizarre offer from composer Gian Carlo Menotti
to become manager of Menotti’s Spoleto Festival, then held only in Italy. Wright’s job was to oversee the production of some ten events put on by the festival’s U.S. side. Each of his events was successful, but the overall festival was a financial disaster. Unnerved, Wright resigned.
After struggling for five years writing magazine articles, Wright accepted an offer to become the editor of Chicago Magazine, which he did from 1969 to 1971. Although the magazine was well received by both Chicagoans and advertisers, his tenure was cut short when the magazine was closed down for making jibes at the elder Mayor Richard Daley
. Although offered editorial positions at three other publications, Wright turned to writing full time and has been doing so ever since, mostly authoring non-fiction books.
Frank Rich
Frank Rich
Frank Rich is an American essayist and op-ed columnist who wrote for The New York Times from 1980, when he was appointed its chief theatre critic, until 2011...
wrote a highly favorable review of Wrights book Lillian Hellman, the Image and the Woman: “Mr. Wright seems an unlikely candidate to sort out the [Lillian] Hellman story. As it happens, he possesses an essential attribute that more passionate writers who either loved or reviled his subject do not: he really is an objective observer.”
The great Harvard naturalist and author, E. O. Wilson
E. O. Wilson
Edward Osborne Wilson is an American biologist, researcher , theorist , naturalist and author. His biological specialty is myrmecology, the study of ants....
, said of Wright’s Born that Way, Genes, Behavior, Personality: “It takes an independent writer and free spirit to tell the story straight, and thank God Wright has done it.”
In addition to Lillian Hellman, the Image and the Woman, Wright’s books include The Von Bulow Affair, and two books with and about Luciano Pavarotti
Luciano Pavarotti
right|thumb|Luciano Pavarotti performing at the opening of the Constantine Palace in [[Strelna]], 31 May 2003. The concert was part of the celebrations for the 300th anniversary of [[St...
: Pavarotti, My Own Story and Pavarotti, My World.
Biography
Wright was born in Philadelphia, the son of William C. Wright Sr. and Josephine Hartshorne Wright. He graduated at the Germantown Friends SchoolGermantown Friends School
Germantown Friends School is a coeducational K-12 school in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the United States under the supervision of Germantown Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends . It is governed by a School Committee whose members are drawn mainly...
and earned his B.A. at Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. In the U.S. Army, he completed training in Chinese at the Language School in Monterey, California and served as an Army translator and interpreter in Japan, Okinawa and on the USS Oriskany.
Career
After his Army service, Wright was an editor at Holiday magazineHoliday (magazine)
Holiday was an American travel magazine published from 1946 to 1977. Originally published by the Curtis Publishing Company, Holidays circulation grew to over one million subscribers at its height....
when it was located in Philadelphia and published the likes of John Steinbeck, V.S. Pritchett and Lawrence Durrell. When Holiday became a casualty of the Curtis Publishing Company’s disintegration, Wright accepted a bizarre offer from composer Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti
Gian Carlo Menotti was an Italian-American composer and librettist. Although he often referred to himself as an American composer, he kept his Italian citizenship. He wrote the classic Christmas opera, Amahl and the Night Visitors, among about two dozen other operas intended to appeal to popular...
to become manager of Menotti’s Spoleto Festival, then held only in Italy. Wright’s job was to oversee the production of some ten events put on by the festival’s U.S. side. Each of his events was successful, but the overall festival was a financial disaster. Unnerved, Wright resigned.
After struggling for five years writing magazine articles, Wright accepted an offer to become the editor of Chicago Magazine, which he did from 1969 to 1971. Although the magazine was well received by both Chicagoans and advertisers, his tenure was cut short when the magazine was closed down for making jibes at the elder Mayor Richard Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
. Although offered editorial positions at three other publications, Wright turned to writing full time and has been doing so ever since, mostly authoring non-fiction books.
Books
- Ball, 1972, Saturday Review Press
- Heiress, the Rich Life of Marjorie Merriweather Post, 1978, New Republic Books
- Rich Relations, a novel, 1980, G.P. Putnam’s Sons
- Pavarotti, My Own Story, 1981, Doubleday
- The Von Bulow Affair, 1983, Delacorte Press
- Lillian Hellman, the Image, the Woman, 1986, Simon and Schuster
- All the Pain Money Can Buy: The Life of Christina Onassis, 1991, Simon and Schuster
- Sins of the Father, with Eileen Franklin. 1991, Crown Publishers
- Pavarotti, My World, 1995, Crown Publishers
- Born that Way, Genes, Behavior, Personality, 1998, Alfred A. Knopf
- Harvard’s Secret Court, 2005, St. Martin’s Press
Plays
- The Julia Wars, Lillian Hellman’s legal battle with Mary McCarthy
- Dreams and Decay in the Winter Palace, the descent of Catherine the Great from idealistic liberalism to decadent conservatism
Notable reviews
- The Showgirl and Her (Many) Princes a review of Gold Digger by Constance Rosenblum, May 17, 2000 New York Times.
- The Love-Hate Themes in Albee’s Life and Work a review of EDWARD ALBEE biography by Mel Gussow, August 23, 1999, New York Times.
- Why Lillian Hellman Remains Fascinating stage view article in The New York Times November 3, 1996.