Blake Bailey

{{short description|American writer (born 1963)|bot=PearBOT 5}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see :Template:Infobox writer/doc --> | name = Blake Bailey | image = Blake Bailey NBCC 2011 Shankbone.jpg | caption = January 2011 | birth_name = Blake Bailey | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|7|1|mf=y}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Biographer | nationality = American | education = Tulane University }} '''Blake Bailey'''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.identitytheory.com/blake-bailey/ | title=Blake Bailey Interview - Identity Theory | date=January 10, 2005 }}</ref> (born July 1, 1963) is an American writer and educator. Bailey is known for his literary biographies of Richard Yates, John Cheever, Charles Jackson, and Philip Roth. He is the editor of the Library of America omnibus editions of Cheever's stories and novels.

==Background== Bailey grew up in Oklahoma City and attended high school at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, where he was friends with another future author, Dan Fagin.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ken |first=Raymond |url=http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-native-dan-fagin-wins-pulitzer-prize-for-nonfiction/article/4083922 |title=Oklahoma City native Dan Fagin wins Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction |work=The Oklahoman |date=April 20, 2014 |accessdate=April 20, 2014 }}</ref> He was a student at Tulane University, from which he graduated in 1985.

Bailey and his family lost their house and most of their possessions in Hurricane Katrina, an experience he wrote about in a series of articles for ''Slate''.<ref name="slate1">{{cite web | title = My Year of Hurricanes | work= Slate|date=September 2, 2005|first= Blake|last=Bailey | url = http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/dispatches/2005/09/my_year_of_hurricanes_6.html}}</ref>

In 2009–2010, Bailey was Writer in Residence at The College of William and Mary in Virginia.<ref name=wm>{{cite web |url=https://www.wm.edu/as/english/writing/donaldson/past/index.php |title = Past Writers in Residence |website = wm.edu |accessdate=April 23, 2021}}</ref> From 2010 to 2016, he was the Mina Hohenberg Darden Professor of Creative Writing at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.<ref name=odu>{{cite web|url=https://www.odu.edu/news/2016/3/blake_bailey#.Wo9ZD4JG2MI|title=Author Blake Bailey to Depart Hohenberg Darden Chair in Creative Writing|website=odu.edu|date=March 17, 2016|accessdate=March 23, 2021}}</ref> He was succeeded by ''Black Elk'' author Joe Jackson.<ref name=odu/> Bailey is a tennis enthusiast.<ref name="nyt1">{{cite news | title = Stray Questions for: Blake Bailey | work= The New York Times|date= July 27, 2007|first=Dwight|last=Garner | url = http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/07/27/stray-questions-for-blake-bailey/}}</ref>

==Career== After college, Bailey wrote occasional freelance pieces. He taught gifted eighth-graders at Lusher Middle School in New Orleans in the 1990s.<ref name="NOLA.com">{{Cite news |last=Vargas |first=Ramon Antonio |date=April 20, 2021 |title=Ex-Lusher teacher Blake Bailey accused of abusing ex-students' trust for sex; denies illegal conduct |work=The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate |url=https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_3d2e096e-a233-11eb-bdec-33c1e8f7cc42.html |access-date=April 24, 2021}}</ref>

After publishing a long critical profile of Richard Yates, Bailey was contracted to write a full-length biography of the novelist, ''A Tragic Honesty: The Life and Work of Richard Yates'' (2003).

In 2005, Bailey was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship to work on his biography, ''Cheever: A Life'', which won the 2009 National Book Critics Circle Award among other honors. Bailey also edited a two-volume edition of Cheever's work for the Library of America.

Bailey published his biography of the novelist Charles Jackson, ''Farther & Wilder: The Lost Weekends and Literary Dreams of Charles Jackson'' (2013), as well as a memoir, ''The Splendid Things We Planned: A Family Portrait'' (2014).

In an interview with ''The New York Times'' published on November 17, 2012, Philip Roth said that Bailey was his official biographer and at work on that project.<ref name="nyt3">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/18/books/struggle-over-philip-roth-reflects-on-putting-down-his-pen.html?hp/|title=Goodbye, Frustration: Pen Put Aside, Roth Talks|first=Charles|last=McGrath|date=November 17, 2012|work=The New York Times}}</ref> While Roth was alive, he gave Bailey exclusive access to papers, friends and family, and made himself available for extensive interviews.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/05/philip-roth-biographer-has-a-hair-raising-claire-bloom-story.html|title=Philip Roth's Biographer Has a Hair-raising Claire Bloom Story to Share|date=May 29, 2018|last=Bonanos|first=Christopher|work=Vulture|access-date=July 2, 2018|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blakebaileyonline.com/about-the-author/|title=Blake Bailey Online – Bio|website=blakebaileyonline.com|language=en|access-date=July 2, 2018}}</ref> Bailey's 880-page biography of Roth, entitled ''Philip Roth: The Biography'', was published in the United States by W. W. Norton & Company on April 6, 2021,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/439de6946ca0da7180b0c7ed3f06c752|title=Blake Bailey's 880-page Philip Roth bio to arrive in April|last=Italie|first=Hillel|work=Associated Press|date=July 30, 2020|access-date=July 30, 2020|language=en}}</ref> and in the United Kingdom by Jonathan Cape on April 8, 2021.

Bailey's primary influence is Lytton Strachey, who he has praised for his style and sense of humor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/tip-sheet/article/56375-5-writing-tips-from-blake-bailey.html |title=5 Writing Tips from Blake Bailey|date=March 15, 2013|last=Bailey|first=Blake|work=Publishers Weekly|access-date=January 2, 2023|language=en}} </ref> Other influences on Bailey's work include Vladimir Nabokov, Evelyn Waugh, and PG Wodehouse.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.signature-reads.com/2013/03/behind-the-books-with-blake-bailey-author-of-farther-and-wilder/|title=Behind the Books with Blake Bailey, Author of Farther and Wilder|date=March 19, 2013|last=Muscolino|first=Joe|work=Signature|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170510133446/http://www.signature-reads.com/2013/03/behind-the-books-with-blake-bailey-author-of-farther-and-wilder/ |access-date=January 2, 2023|archive-date=May 10, 2017 |language=en}} </ref>

== Sexual misconduct allegations == On April 16, 2021, several former students of Bailey's left comments on a critical review of Bailey's Roth biography, alleging that Bailey had groomed them when they were minors.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Champion |first=Edward |date=April 16, 2021 |title=Blake Bailey, Casual Misogynist and Eager Rube |work=Reluctant Habits |url=http://www.edrants.com/blake-bailey-casual-misogynist-and-eager-rube/ |access-date=April 16, 2021}}</ref> On April 18, 2021, Bailey was dropped by his agency, the Story Factory, following these allegations of sexual misconduct, which Bailey denied.<ref>{{Cite news |last=D'Zurilla |first=Christie |date=April 20, 2021 |title=Philip Roth biographer Blake Bailey dropped by agent over 'grooming' allegations |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2021-04-20/blake-bailey-philip-roth-biographer-dropped-by-agent |access-date=April 21, 2021}}</ref> On April 20, 2021, journalists Ramon Antonio Vargas and Edward Champion first reported on these allegations in detail.<ref>{{cite web |title=Author Blake Bailey accused of abusing ex-Lusher students' trust for sex; denies illegal conduct |url=https://www.nola.com/news/education/article_3d2e096e-a233-11eb-bdec-33c1e8f7cc42.html/?s |first=Ramon Antonio |last=Vargas |work=The New Orleans Advocate |date=April 20, 2021 |access-date=April 21, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Dark Manipulative Life of Blake Bailey |url=http://www.edrants.com/the-dark-manipulative-life-of-blake-bailey/ |first=Edward |last=Champion |work=Reluctant Habits |date=April 20, 2021 |access-date=April 20, 2021}}</ref> Bailey was accused of grooming his former students at Lusher Middle School for sex.<ref>{{cite web |title=Life As a Man |url=https://www.thecut.com/2021/04/philip-roth-biographer-blake-bailey.html |first=Rebecca |last=Traister |publisher=The Cut |date=April 30, 2021 |access-date=May 2, 2021}}</ref> One former student, Eve Crawford Peyton, has accused Bailey of raping her when she was 22 years old.<ref name=":0"/> On April 27, 2021, he was also accused of "nonconsensual sex" by Valentina Rice, a publishing executive.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Sexual Assault Allegations Against Biographer Halt Shipping of His Roth Book|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/21/books/philip-roth-blake-bailey.html|access-date=April 27, 2021|website=The New York Times|first1=Alexandra|last1=Alter|first2=Rachel|last2=Abrams|date=April 21, 2021}}</ref>

In a statement provided to the Associated Press on April 21 by W. W. Norton & Company, the publisher announced it had "decided to pause the shipping and promotion of ''Philip Roth: The Biography'' pending any further information that may emerge."<ref>{{Cite news|title=Publisher pauses release of new Philip Roth biography|url=https://apnews.com/article/blake-bailey-philip-roth-biographies-arts-and-entertainment-entertainment-d95be8f46e5570766bcaae10a92e2aac|date=April 21, 2021|access-date=April 21, 2021|work=Associated Press|first=Hillel|last=Italie}}</ref> On April 28, W. W. Norton announced that it is taking the book out of print.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/apr/28/publisher-cancels-philip-roth-biography-after-sexual-abuse-claims-against-blake-bailey|title=Publisher cancels Philip Roth biography after sexual abuse claims against Blake Bailey|work=The Guardian|date=April 28, 2021|accessdate=April 28, 2021}}</ref> Three weeks later, in May 2021, Skyhorse Publishing announced that it would release a paperback, ebook, and audiobook versions of the biography.<ref>"Philip Roth Biography Finds a New Publisher", ''The New York Times'', May 17, 2021 [https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/17/books/blake-bailey-philip-roth-biography.html]</ref>

In 2025, Bailey published a memoir titled ''Canceled Lives: My Father, My Scandal, and Me'', which focuses on the death of his father Burck, his brother Scott's suicide, and the final moments of Philip Roth's life, which he parallels with his own "social death" following the allegations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peng |first=Sheluyang |date=2025-04-10 |title=The Ghostwriter |url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/arts-letters/articles/ghostwriter-blake-bailey-canceled-lives |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Tablet}}</ref>

== Awards and honors == * 2000 Louisiana Humanities Teacher of the Year<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Peyton|first=Eve Crawford|date=2021-04-29|title=He Told Me He'd "Wanted Me Since the Day We Met." When We Met, I Was 12.|url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2021/04/blake-bailey-former-student-sexual-assault-essay.html|access-date=2021-04-30|website=Slate Magazine|language=en}}</ref> *2003 National Book Critics Circle Award finalist for ''A Tragic Honesty: The Life and Work of Richard Yates'' * 2005 Guggenheim Fellowship for ''Cheever: A Life'' * 2009 National Book Critics Circle Award winner for ''Cheever: A Life'' * 2009 Francis Parkman Prize winner for ''Cheever: A Life'' * 2009 Pulitzer Prize finalist for ''Cheever: A Life''<ref name="precisely">{{cite web|last=Latus|first=Janine|date=November 2011|title=Precisely, A world-class literary biographer.|url=http://www.distinctionhr.com/2011/11/blake-bailey-precisely/|work=Distinction|access-date=January 15, 2012|archive-date=May 6, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506085233/http://distinctionhr.com/2011/11/blake-bailey-precisely/|url-status=dead}}</ref> * 2009 James Tait Black Memorial Prize finalist for ''Cheever: A Life'' * 2010 Academy Award in Literature given by the American Academy of Arts and Letters * 2014 National Book Critics Circle Award (Autobiography) finalist for ''The Splendid Things We Planned''<ref name=nbcc2014>{{cite web|url=http://bookcritics.org/blog/archive/national-book-critics-circle-announces-its-finalists-for-publishing-year-20|title=National Book Critics Circle Announces Finalists for Publishing Year 2014|date=January 19, 2015|publisher=National Book Critics Circle|accessdate=January 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122224418/http://bookcritics.org/blog/archive/national-book-critics-circle-announces-its-finalists-for-publishing-year-20|archive-date=January 22, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Bibliography== ===As author=== * {{Cite book |title=Sixties |publisher=Bdd Promotional Book Co. |year=1992 |isbn=978-0-792-45764-0 |location=New York |oclc=1077746456}} * {{Cite book |title=A Tragic Honesty: The Life and Work of Richard Yates |publisher=Picador |year=2003 |isbn=978-0-312-28721-4 |location=New York |oclc=51040212}} * {{Cite book |title=Cheever: A Life |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf |year=2009 |isbn=978-1-4000-4394-1 |location=New York |oclc=232980275}} * {{Cite book |title=Farther & Wilder: The Lost Weekends and Literary Dreams of Charles Jackson |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf |year=2013 |isbn=978-0-307-27358-1 |location=New York |oclc=796761402}} * {{Cite book |title=The Splendid Things We Planned: A Family Portrait |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |year=2014 |isbn=978-0-393-23957-7 |location=New York |oclc=866251891}} * {{Cite book |title=Philip Roth: The Biography |title-link=Philip Roth: The Biography |publisher=W. W. Norton & Company |year=2021 |isbn=978-0-393-24072-6 |location=New York |oclc=1155082654}} * {{Cite book |title=Canceled Lives: My Father, My Scandal, and Me |publisher=Skyhorse Publishing |year=2025|isbn=978-1-510-78332-4 |location=New York |oclc=1512828401}}

===As editor=== *''John Cheever: Collected Stories and Other Writings'' (Library of America, 2009) *''John Cheever: Complete Novels'' (Library of America, 2009) *''The Sunnier Side and Other Stories'', by Charles Jackson (Vintage/Random House, 2013)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Official website|blakebaileyonline.com}} *[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/20/blake-bailey-how-i-write.html/ "How I Write" interview with Blake Bailey] in ''The Daily Beast'' *[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/books/review/Wolff-t.html/ Geoffrey Wolff's review of "Cheever: A Life"] in ''The New York Times Book Review'' *[http://www.slate.com/id/2127127/ "My Year of Hurricanes"] in ''Slate'' *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090528083313/http://www.moreintelligentlife.com/blog/qa-blake-bailey-literary-biographer Blake Bailey interviewed] on ''The Economist'' blog *[https://web.archive.org/web/20091224162203/http://wamu.org/programs/dr/09/03/10.php Blake Bailey interviewed] on ''The Diane Rehm Show'' *{{C-SPAN|9267293}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bailey, Blake}} Category:1963 births Category:20th-century American male writers Category:21st-century American male writers Category:20th-century American biographers Category:American literary editors Category:Living people Category:American male biographers Category:Old Dominion University faculty Category:Schoolteachers from Louisiana Category:Tulane University alumni Category:Writers from Oklahoma City Category:National Book Critics Circle Award winners Category:21st-century American biographers