Spirited Men: Story, Soul & Substance
by Brian Doyle
Published by Cowley Publication
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Reviewed by Connie Anderson
Author Brian Doyle is a man of fine words who has written about 11 other men of fine words--authors or musicians and songwriters.
This is really a man's (man's) book about what it means to be a man. The author says in his introduction: This book is a collection of resurrections, restorations, reconsiderations, appreciations, enthusiasm, headlong solos, laughing prayers, imaginary meetings with most unusual and most interesting men.
The author brought these men to life: Van Morrison, William Blake, Pultarch of Greece, Robert Louis Stevenson, Rider Haggard, Paul Desmond, Jim Kjelgaard, Graham Greene, James Joyce, Paul Kelly--and finally a special friend, Bob Boehmer.
Doyle writes about British writer Graham Greene, that he wrote about hearts--that was why he was a great novelist, with his great sub-sub-characters.
Writer Rider Haggard, who wrote stories for young adults about animals and boys and forests, is quoted as saying, "I started writing because it seemed just naturally to be heading in that direction anyhow."
As more of a jazz fan than a lover of the literary, I especially enjoyed the section on Paul Desmond, the amazing alto saxophone player known for his many years playing and traveling worldwide with the Dave Brubeck Quartet--and his own musical creations, such as "Take Five." Before Desmond died in 1977 at age 52 of lung cancer (ironic because he drank a lot and his liver was fine)--he decreed that the American Red Cross benefit from sales of his recordings and compositions. In the years since, the American Red Cross has received more than $3 million from his generosity.
Because of Doyle's focus on these men, I believe a man who loves to read about great men will really appreciate knowing more about these both common and--I sure did. That's powerful stuff!!
Armchair Interviews says: In Spirited Men: Story, Soul & Substance, Doyle's digging out of facts, both interesting and thoughtful, was incredible. His own writing is first-rate as he writes about these men, some of ancient and others of more current history.