WALTER TEVIS

by Lisa English

If anyone thinks the life of a writer is boring or mundane, then they should look into the life of the well-known Kentucky author, Walter Tevis. His life was full of experiences, many of which inspired the ideas and themes seen in his writings. Tevis was born in San Francisco on February 28, 1928. When he was ten years old, his father and his family went to live with his father's sister (Williams 2). Tevis was left behind in a San Francisco hospital due to a rheumatic heart, and he stayed there for a year without his family (Williams 2). When he was eleven he joined his family in Kentucky. Tevis attended the Ashland School in Lexington, which he claimed was a painful experience (Williams 2). Tevis went on to attend Morton Junior High and Henry Clay High School (Ellis, "Biographical"). He then attended Model High School in Richmond, and from there he graduated. He served two years in the U.S. Navy as a Carpenter's Mate during World War II (Ellis, "Biographical"). After serving his time in the Navy, Tevis attended the University of Kentucky and attained both an A.B. and M.A. degree in English. This triggered the start of a teaching career. Tevis taught high school English in several Kentucky schools, including those in Science Hill, Hawesville, Irvine, and Carlisle (Ellis, "Biographical"). Tevis also taught at the college level. He was a professor at the University of Kentucky, Southern Connecticut State College, and at Ohio University in Athens "where he was a distinguished professor and was selected by students as one of the school's most popular instructors" (Warren A12).

Tevis' most famous novel, The Hustler, was published in 1959. The novel is about Fast Eddie, a young pool player, who climbs to the top of the pool world, eventually defeating Minnesota Fats. The novel was made into a movie in 1961 starring Paul Newman and Jackie Gleason. His second novel, The Man Who Fell to Earth, was published in 1963. It is about an alien who lands in Estill County, Kentucky. This novel was also made into a movie. It starred David Bowie.

After the success of these two novels, Tevis began drinking heavily and became an alcoholic. This led to a seventeen-year gap in his writing career (Williams 1). He quit drinking in 1975 and moved to New York in 1978 (Ellis, "Kentucky"). From 1979 to 1983, Tevis published four books including Mockingbird in 1980, Far From Home in 1981, and Steps of the Sun and The Queen's Gambit in 1983. Tevis died of lung cancer in 1984 at the age of 56 (Ellis, "Kentucky").

Much of what Tevis wrote is autobiographical. He drew of his own life experiences. In the article "Author's gambit takes him back home," Tevis said, "I think ultimately I need to write about things in my own life- because you naturally write best about the things you know" (Crumm H-L).

When reviewing some of his works, the themes that surface definitely support Tevis' statement. He wrote a lot about the "low" man in society--the one who never gets a break and eventually becomes lost. T.J. Newton, an alien and the main of The Man Who Fell to Earth, is a good representation of that theme. He is a foreigner on this planet and does not fit in. His body is awkward; he's in constant pain, and he is a loner. Newton doesn't experience any real, meaningful relationships because most everyone thinks he is strange, so they avoid him. It is at the end of novel when he suffers the most physical and emotional pain. He is a victim and tossed around by the hands of the government. The government officials have no concern or respect for him as a living being. Instead, they torture him mercilessly like a laboratory rat through various tests. As a result of their selfishness and lack of compassion, they leave Newton blind, and he is faced with living the rest of his life basically as an invalid. He has nothing. Tevis could relate to Newton's lonliness and sadness due to his painful childhood experiences. In "Toasting the best of times," Tevis talked about his coming to Kentucky and said, "My accent was strange, I was nearly crippled from having a rheumatic heart and rheumatic fever. I was physically weak. I got beat up a lot by the kids in school" (Williams 2).

Although T.J. Newton's life was hopeless in the end, Tevis did inject some positive aspects into his theme of "the man bein down on his luck." In The Queen's Gambit, Beth Harmon is a shy, frightened girl who was orphaned at eight. She survives on tranquilizers and becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol as she becomes older. Despite all of these hardships, she manages to rise and conquer by becoming a champion chess player. Her life is changed forever by her success as the first woman chess champion and her ability to defeat even the greatest players.

In The Hustler, Fast Eddie, and owner of a local pool hall, is surrounded by alcohol and the arrogant attitudes of the upper class. He continually sees the intimidating airs put on by cocky pool players and decides to overcome all of his obstacles in life by becoming a champion pool player. He defeats even the greatest pool sharks, including the legendary Minnesota Fats. His success redeems his self-esteem and his confidence to go on in life.

Both of these novels can be seen as autobiographical, in the sense that Tevis had to overcome many obstacles in his life, including alcoholism. Tevis became consumed by this disease and did not write for seventeen years. When he finally got help and recovered, his success was greater than ever. Tevis began writing again and was in better physical and emotional health than he had been in years. He got his life back, and once again ended up top.

Tevis wrote what he knew, and, through his experiences, he created characters that his readers could relate to. He wrote about the destruction of life, alcoholism, competition, and the comebacks from life's low points. These themes are real. They are all about life--not only Tevis' life, but the lives of all people. The gift he had for creating stories with real characters and real themes is a quality that all readers can relate to, understand, and appreciate.

In the article, "Walter Tevis: Kentucky Novelist," William E. Ellis writes, "Walter Tevis once remarked: 'I think I am a good American writer of the second rank.'" Many may question and disagree with Tevis' opinion of his talents. Some may think he doesn't give himself enough credit. In the article "Author put a little of himself into work," Jim Warren writes: "Leon Driskell, an author who teaches at the University of Louisville and a friend of Tevis', said he rated Tevis with Harriette Arnow, Robert Penn Warren, James Still, and Jesse Stuart as the greatest novelists Kentucky had produced 'in my lifetime'" (A12).

In Warren's article, Mrs. Tevis said, about Tevis, "He was a very courageous man who didn't realize how courageous he was" (A12). The opinions that these people hold for Walter Tevis don't seem to be second rank. Tevis was a dedicated writer and a truly talented one. He put all of himself into his work, and his writings are sure to read and appreciated by people from all walks of life for a long time.

Crum, David. "Author's Gambit Takes Him Back Home." Lexington Herald Leader 6 Mar. 1983: H-L.

Ellis, William E. "Walter Tevis: Biographical Sketch."

Ellis, William E. " Walter Tevis: Kentucky Novelist."

Warren, Jim. "Author Put a Little of Himself into Work." Lexington Herald Leader 11 Aug. 1984: A1, A12.

Williams, Shirley. "Toasting the Best of Times." Courier-Journal Magazine.

by Lisa English

Novels:

The Hustler. New York, Harper & Brothers, 1959.

The Man Who Fell to Earth. New York, Gold Medal Books, 1963.

The Queen's Gambit. New York, Random House, 1983.

Short Stories (in order of date of publication):

"The Best in the Country" Esquire. November, 1954.

"The Big Hustle" Collier's Magazine. August 5, 1955.

"Misleading Lady" The American Magazine. October, 1955.

"Mother of the Artist" Everywoman's. (month of issue uncertain) 1955.

"The Man from Chicago" Bluebook. January, 1956.

"The Stubbornest Man" The Saturday Evening Post. January 19, 1957.

John Bull (London). June 29, 1957.

Familie Journal (Copenhagen). September, 1957.

"The Hustler" (original title, "The Actors") Playboy

"Operation Gold Brick" If. June, 1957.

"The Big Bounce" Galaxy. February, 1958.

"Sucker's Game" Redbook. August, 1958.

"First Love" Redbook. August, 1958.

"Far From Home" The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. December, 1958.

"Alien Love" (Author's title: "The Man from Budapest") Cosmopolitan. January, 1959.

"A Short Ride in the Dark" The Toronto Star Weekly Magazine. April 4, 1959.

"Gentle is the Gunman" The Saturday Evening Post. August 13, 1960.

"Farnsworth's Eye" Galaxy, (date uncertain) 1960.

"The Other End of the Line" The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. (date uncertain) 1961.

"The Machine that Hustled Pool" Nugget. February, 1961.

" Machine Record" Science Fiction Adventures (London). Vol. 4, No. 20. 1961.

"The Scholar's Disciple" College English. October, 1969.

"The King is Dead" Playboy. September, 1973.

Magazine Articles:

"A Key to Magazine Fiction" Writer's Digest. August, 1959.

"The New Rooms" The Nation. 1965.

"Input Your Move" The Courier Journal. Sunday , May 29, 1974.

"Checkmate in Vegas" The Atlantic Monthly. October, 1974.

"Fastest Man with a Cue" Sports Illustrated. December 16, 1974.