Allan Seager (1906–1968)

What a sense of humor! Wish he'd written another memoir. I've read that Seager was compared to or listed with other writers of his time, like Hemingway and Sherwood Anderson. Well those guys never made me laugh like Seager did in this beautifully crafted set of autobiographical pieces. This man knew enough about writing not to take himself too seriously, in spite of his bout with tuberculosis. People have called some of these essays heartbreaking, but I found them mostly hilarious. Being a Michigander/Midwesterner myself, I found much with which to identify while reading Seager. I've walked the U of M campus and recognize small-town Michigan in his descriptions of Adrian (his birthplace) and the stoic mannerisms of his family and friends. The style and the humor are so easy and conversational - so contemporary - that I often had to remind myself that these stories all happened in the 1920s! The only thing really heartbreaking here is that Allan Seager died so young. When I was a kid, if I heard about someone dying at 62, I just figured it was probably "old age." Now I'm 65, and I know better. Here was a life full of promise cut short. This book, A Frieze of Girls, deserves a wide readership, but, sadly, it probably will sink into obscurity again before long. I plan to tell as many people as possible about it. If I had to compare him to someone, it might be Ring Lardner or Andy Rooney. This guy was funny! And he could write like nobody's business.… (more)