"A biography of great immediacy. . . . There are many sections of great poignancy, many funny things, many of electric intimacy and candor . . . there is spellbinding power, never more so than in describing Cheever's death, pages that are both terrible and deeply moving; one is losing an old, beloved friend." —James Salter,Los Angeles Times Book Review"John Cheever: A Biographyis clearly an indispensable book. Donaldson moves gracefully from the personal to the literary. . . . Solidly researched and entirely readable, admiring of the writer and knowing about the man. Stuffed with fascinating anecdotes. It's a gut-wrenching story. Donaldson tells it straight, without embellishment, and our attention never strays." —Dan Cryer,Newsday"A coup of investigative reporting." —Publishers Weekly"Both erudite and earthly. What emerges is a rich tapestry that gives the reader extraordinary insight...