“Poet, lawyer, Librarian of Congress, statesman, and professor, MacLeish (1892—1982) revived the Homeric ideal of a poet as “a man in the world.” In this authorized and idealized biography, his only flaws are a demanding nature, many discreet infidelities, and lack of interest in his children. Fortunately, Donaldson... is as successful in celebrating MacLeish's strengths as he has been in tracing the demons that destroyed Cheever... Fitzgerald, and Hemingway.
