Misfit:: The Strange Life of Frederick Exley
Exley, best known for his 1968 cult classic, A Fan's Notes, was indeed a misfit. He managed to sponge off his family and friends successfully throughout his life, believing it was beneath him to earn a living by conventional means. Yardley, the book critic for the Washington Post, demonstrates that Exley's great interest in life was himself and that the three novels he wrote were all strongly autobiographical. Despite his self-absorbed existence, liberally drenched in alcohol, Exley managed to win the support of those closest to him and produce a work of enduring popularity. In this exceptionally written work, Yardley treats Exley's life with candor yet without excuses. Those who have enjoyed A Fan's Notes will find this biography essential reading. Recommended for all libraries.?Ronald Ratliff, Chapman H.S. Lib., Kan.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.