I came across an article by Sharon Cummins yesterday on Old News From Southern Maine on Kenneth Roberts – who resided in Maine – titled “Kenneth Roberts Was Audacious but Authentic.” Though a bit jumpy as an article, it is a breath of fresh air compared to the same old short bios I keep finding on the Web about Kenneth Roberts. Ms. Cummins provides several aspects about Kenneth Roberts’ works and person that I have not yet heard of.
When discussing K.R.’s work before his rise in popularity, she mentions that one of his early articles for the Post, ” ‘Good Will and Almond Shells,’ won him popular acclaim when it was made into the movie ‘The Shell Game’ in 1918.” I’ve never heard of this movie, nor did I see K.R. mention this in his I Wanted to Write (it may be in this book, but I don’t recall seeing it). She also writes how K.R.’s passion for history developed out of his “childhood love for fairy tales and myths” (she doesn’t go further to show or explain how this development occurs, but I believe this is due to limited time and space). Interesting little tidbits regarding K.R.’s work that are worth checking up on.
Ms. Cummins also quotes an episode written by the editor for High Tide in 1940 (apparently a local paper – local to K.R. – in Maine) that gives us a glimpse into Kenneth Roberts the person:
Last Sunday was an average day,” wrote the editor of High Tide, “Mr. Roberts was sitting, guarding his better ducks (he has two classes) in his better duck pond; ran to get a shot gun when a hawk appeared over the pond. (Between hawks, mink, and owls, it’s a race with death). When he returned to the pond the hawk had taken warning, but a mink was placidly swimming about with its head above water. Mr. Roberts fired… belatedly discovered that the mink was a friendly woodchuck; that he had also shot one of his blue-blood Formosa Teal ducks for which he had paid a handsome sum; regretfully at the duck for supper.”
To see one of the ponds at K.R.’s house, see the post below discussing the sale of his home and click on the link for the slide show. Those ducks sure had it nice.
Take an article to read Ms. Cummins’ article – like I said earlier, it’s a breath of fresh air from those stale short bios.
****Update 10:34 pm****
I forgot to mention this earlier … Ms. Cummins’ article does leave the reader with a couple of unanswered questions:
- In the second paragraph, Ms. Cummins mentions that “a critic for the New York Times called [Kenneth Roberts] truculent, irascible, cantankerous, arrogant, sardonic, blunt, prickly, blustering,” etc. This is well and good, but who is the NY Times critic in question? When was this published? Why is this critic important in relation to K.R.’s other critics?
- In discussing K.R.’s background, Ms. Cummins briefly mentions his time at Cornell University (class 1908), during which he “earned a reputation for pushing the controversy envelope.” But, how did he earn this reputation? Most can read on the Web that K.R. wrote Cornell’s school song, but there’s little to nothing on his reputation as such. So, where did she get this information?
Do you know these answers? I hope to locate these answers…in the meantime, let me know if you know!
***Update #2 – 9:48 pm 4/19/09***
Ms. Cummins has kindly responded to my questions above … take the time to read her responses (well-informed!). I must apologize if the tone is this letter comes across as questioning her credibility or writing; I in no way intend this to be. Again, thanks to Ms. Cummins for her feedback. -Danny
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Filed under: K.R. in the Blogosphere | Tagged: Good Will and Almond Shells, Kenneth Roberts, Maine, Old News from Southern Maine, Sharon Cummins, The Post, The Shell Game | 2 Comments »
Kenneth Roberts - The Unofficial Site 