Legacy is a 6-letter word…

 

One of these gentlemen was named Hugh Walpole. F-a-a-a-mous Writer.

Some other famous writer once wrote that “the good is oft interrèd with their bones.” It’s no secret that the reputation of Stephen King has taken a bit of a hit of late. Too much with the tongue-lashing of Donald Trump for some of his more down-home fans. Should this extremely rich and prolifically prolific author be fretting about his legacy in the annals of literature? 

Hard to say. Have you heard of the prominent writer and “Commander of the British Empire (CBE) Hugh Walpole? No, not Horace. He was the one who wrote so swimmingly about fishing. This was Hugh, who has quite a lengthy write up at Wikipedia. Here are the most salient excerpts:


WIKI: <<Sir Hugh Seymour Walpole, CBE (13 March 1884 – 1 June 1941) was an English novelist. He was the son of an Anglican clergyman, intended for a career in the church but drawn instead to writing. Among those who encouraged him were the authors Henry James and Arnold Bennett. His skill at scene-setting and vivid plots, as well as his high profile as a lecturer, brought him a large readership in the United Kingdom and North America. 

Walpole's output was large and varied. Between 1909 and 1941 he wrote thirty-six novels, five volumes of short stories, two original plays and three volumes of memoirs. His range included disturbing studies of the macabre, children's stories and historical fiction, most notably his Herries Chronicle series, set in the Lake District. He worked in Hollywood writing scenarios for two Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films in the 1930s, and had a cameo in the 1935 film adaptation of David Copperfield.

He was a best-selling author in the 1920s and 1930s but has been largely neglected since his death.>>


As far as we know, he never impugned the masculinity of the King, but otoh he was gay, which was kind of illegal in Great Britain for about a thousand years, though that didn’t seem to deter Oscar Wilde or Evelyn Waugh from achieving high rank and continuing popularity in the literary canon. Not to mention Truman Capote and William Burroughs here in America. 


You’d have to say the jury is still out on the lord of “It” and “The Shining.” But in his favor, you have to admit he did a lot more movie cameos than Hugh Walpole.

Can’t help you much more than that. Trying to remember if I ever read one of his books. Seen a couple of his movies though. But don’t go by that. My idea of a great horror movie is Luchino Visconti’s “The Damned.” Ask your 30-yo son or nephew. They might have been paying attention when I wasn’t. See what they think.


_______________________

FULL DISCLOSURE…

I guess I have to admit I’ve taken some possibly unfair shots at King in the past. But I had a display of his bestsellers in my videogame adventure Shuteye Town 1999. Pretty sure this is the extent of any actual critique I might have offered of his work.


You might want to full screen on this one…
 
Sorry if anything I said earlier gave the wrong impression.

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