Chapters 4-6 Summary and Analysis

Trillin often shared his work with his wife, against the advice of a co-worker from Trillin's early years with The New Yorker. Trillin knew that because of Alice's background as an English professor, she would give him an honest assessment of his writing. While this would often lead to arguments in any other marriage, Trillin felt it made him a stronger writer. Trillin wrote for Alice. Alice wrote herself as well. Alice also held various jobs that involved the written word, including a stint at City College with a program called Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge. In this program, Alice worked with Mina Shaughnessy, a well-known writer and educator. Mina taught Alice about self-respect, especially when Mina suffered from cervical cancer and made a point of dressing for all of her medical-therapy sessions. When Alice herself suffered from...