Archibald MacLeish

“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.