Here’s Willson’s opening salvo.

Newton Booth Tarkington (b. 1869, the same year as my Grandfather Willson) was a significant American writer, in some ways the American Anthony Trollope. Trollope was wildly popular during his lifetime and made a lot of money writing (he was unapologetic about writing for money), but his reputation went south amongst the “critics” for almost seven decades because of a supposed lack of ideas and artistic integrity (another way of saying that he wrote for money). Booth Tarkington was wildly popular during his lifetime and made a lot of money writing, but his reputation went south after his death in 1946. Just as Trollope made a comeback in the late 1940s, Tarkington is due for his comeback about now.

Be sure to click through the link above to read the full article.  It’s excellent… and includes mention of yours truly.

Martin Cothran, who has come to Tarkington’s defense before, joins me in welcoming Willson’s proposal!

The Indiana Repertory Theatre opened its fall season Friday night with a luxurious performance of Booth Tarkington’s “The Gentleman from Indiana.” This hopeful tale of small-town Hoosier life from the turn of the century comes just in time to bring some balance to the cynicism and indifference generated by another election cycle.

Adapted by James Still, this Gentleman is an upbeat, old-fashioned tale of virtue beating out greed and graft, and of the down-home integrity of small-town rural life. If this sounds something like “It’s a Wonderful Life,” that wouldn’t be too far off the mark.

As near as I can tell, Still’s play has not been mounted elsewhere, though it is indeed available through Dramatic Publishing.

As far as I can recall, Tarkington never wrote about golf, and so must have practiced it as a social adept rather than as an actual enthusiast.  (Compare with his wit regarding one of his passions, painting, as documented in Rumbin Galleries and Some Old Paintings, among others.)  A country club was the setting of many of the stories in Women, and seemed the object of some satire there.

In any event, here are the details of the tourney:

The ninth annual Kennebunkport Historical Society Golf Tournament will tee off at the historic Cape Arundel Golf Club at 9 a.m., Friday, Sept. 18.

Admission is only $110 in advance, $125 the day of the event.

The price includes 18 holes of golf, carts, prizes, refreshments and a gala post-tourney party and barbecue at the 19th hole.

Proceeds support the Historical Society’s work of preserving and presenting local history.

Send in your reservation and check to the Kennebunkport Historical Society, P.O Box 1173, Kennebunkport, ME 04046. FMI: Call 967-2751 or 967-3939

An Indiana version of Tom Sawyer, and at least as good. Penrod is a boy who is having trouble figuring out the rules of the adult world, and the adults are having trouble figuring out why Penrod can’t figure them out. Tarkington, one of the great and under appreciated American writers, penned this rumination on boyhood in the early 20th century, and produced one of the funniest books ever written. Like Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn, this is a book about a “bad” boy (really, an ignorant boy). And, like all such books, it helps your own “bad” boy at home see himself in the third person. He sees how silly he is by seeing how Tom and Huck and Penrod look to the outside observer.

I think he’s got a great point.  When my dad read Penrod to my brother and I, it was clear that he could find humor in childish troublemaking, so we even learned that my dad could be human, too.  And on our end, we could see that, while he could find Penrod’s shenanigans humorous, he wouldn’t be too pleased either.  So not only did we learn from Penrod, we learned from our dad, too.  Great times, and great memories.

Read a book by an Indiana author, Booth Tarkington. Join us as we share our impression, and opinions.For more information, call the library, 848-7458.

Contact: Daryl or Treva 848-7458

1. Alice Adams
2. Penrod
3. Penrod and Sam
4. The Turmoil

The following titles are in the works:

1. The Magnificent Ambersons
2. Seventeen

I can’t vouch for the quality of any of these recordings, but the site sounds like a cool idea!

Playwright BYRON NILSSON’s credits include “Drivers” (Ensemble Studio Theatre), the musical “Pirate Pip” (commissioned by the Lake George Opera Company), and “iFind You @ Last,” premiered at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz. With songwriting partner Tom Savoy, Byron is currently writing a full-length holiday musical based on Booth Tarkington’s “Beasley’s Christmas Party.”

Three years ago, I wrote my own stage adaptation of Beasley’s Christmas Party, also including elements of Tarkington’s Ramsay Milholland.  Last year, the off-Broadway Keen Company staged their own dramatic adaptation.  Now it’s a musical!

Those who have ears, take note. Clearly there’s something to this story, which Mark Twain even noted when the story was originally released.

4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom home. Beautiful open floor plan. Kitchen with maple cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite counters, sandstone tile backsplash and huge island. Hardwood floors. Large family room fireplace and wall of windows. 1st-floor den with French doors. Master suite with tray ceiling and Grecian bath. Finished basement. 3-car garage.

Back in 1917, a committee convened to select the very first Pulitzer prize winning novel.

The members of this committe would later report, “Of the five books submitted in competition, all but one seem to us unworthy of consideration for the prize. We are unanimously of the opinion, however, that the merits of this book, though considerable, are no greater than that of several other novels, which though not included in the formal applications, have been taken into consideration by us in arriving at a final verdict. We recommend that the award be withheld this year.”

The inaugural Pulitzer novel was finally named the following year (HIS FAMILY by Ernest Poole), but in 1919 the committee again recommended no prize — until a last-minute decision was made to honor Booth Tarkington’s THE MAGNIFICENT AMBERSONS. In 1920 the prize was once again withheld.

This is interesting backstory material.  I’m not sure what Sieruta’s source is for this information, but I’ve seen no reference to it in Tarkington biographies.  I’m planning an inquiry of Sieruta to document the source.

Their “Who is Booth Tarkington?” page contains some unusual biographical notes:

He was one of the most popular American novelists of his time, with The Two Vanrevels and Mary’s Neck appearing on the annual best-seller lists nine times.

Tarkington’s best known work today is The Magnificent Ambersons, due in part to its famous treatment by Orson Welles in 1941 and its frequently favored listing on the Modern Library’s list of top-100 novels.

Tarkington donated substantially to Purdue University and has been recognized for his philanthropy. Tarkington Hall, an all-men’s residence hall at Purdue, is named in honor of him. He died on May 19, 1946.

Here’s the stated mission of IPS 92:

The faculty, staff, and parents at Booth Tarkington School 92 are committed to helping students develop to their fullest potential. A variety of strategies are used to meet the needs of our diverse school community. We expect students to master basic skills in reading, writing, and math. Students will be able to clearly communicate ideas both verbally and in written form. We encourage students to become critical thinkers and problem solvers. We promote students becoming productive citizens by encouraging responsible, self disciplined, and respectful behavior.The faculty of Booth Tarkington School 92 believe in the ideas of effective schools.

These ideas include:

• Positive school climate
• Instructional focus
• High expectations for students, faculty and staff
• Strong instructional leadership
• Continuous assessment