The Same River Twice: Honoring the Difficult

304 Pages·1996·33.071 MB·English

by  Alice Walker

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T H E S A M E R I V E R TWICE
H o n o r i n g l/ze Difficult
—;A;:;m:s
U.S. $24.00
Can. $32.50
In the early eighties, the peaceful, reclusive
life of poet and writer Alice \Valker was inter-
rupted by the appearance of three extraordinary
gifts: a widely praised best-selling novel (The
Color Purple), the Pulitzer Prize, and an offer
from Steven Spielberg to make her novel into
a film that would become a major international
event. This last gift, which \Valker identifies
as “the knock at the door,” led her into the laby-
rinth of a never-before~experienced creative
collaboration, principally with Spielberg and
Quincy Jones, and the "magic” and perils of
moviemaking.
The Same River flvice: Honoring the Difi‘icult
chronicles that period of transition, from recluse
to public figure, and invites us to contemplate,
along with her, the true significance of extraor-
dinary gifts—especially when they are coupled,
as in Walker’s case, with the most severe criti-
cism, overt hostility, and public censure from
one’s community of choice.
The book is composed of entries from
VValker’s journals, correspondence—including
letters to Spielber , Jones, and Danny Glover.
who played the much reviled Mister in the
movie—and essays and articles that document
the controversy in the African-American com-
munity upon the film’s release. It also contains ‘
\Nalker’s original screenplay for the film The
Color Pulp/e, a screenplay that ultimately was
not used by Spielberg and has never been pub-
lished. In three new essays, Walker looks back at
what was taking place in her life at that time: the
onset of a debilitating illness, the failing health
of her adored mother, and the betrayal by her
companion of thirteen years. How do the private
and the public mesh, she asks. during periods of
intense creativity and stress? In what ways do
they support 01' weaken each other?
(continued on back flap) _
. 4.-..”
(continuedfrom front flap)
The Same River Twice: Honoring the Difii'cult—
A Meditation of Life, Spirit, Art, and the Making of
the Film The Color Purple Ten Years Later offers
a rich opportunity to understand how an artist
may operate in and engage the popular culture,
and a candid look at some of the pleasures and
the costs.
ALICE WALKER is the author of five novels, two
collections of short stories,' two collections of
essays, five volumes. of poetry, and several chil-
dren’s books. Critically acclaimed best-sellers,
her books have sold nearly ten million copies
and have been translated into more than two
dozen languages. Born in Eatonton, Georgia,
Alice Walker now lives in northern California.
Jacket design by John Fontana
Jacket photograph copyright © Barbara Klein
Printed in the USA. Copyright © 1996 Simon & Schuster Inc.
Distributed by Simon & Schuster Inc.
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9 780684 814193 N 1“
ISBN U-EBH-BLLIL‘I-E
OTHER BOOKS BY ALICE WALKER
REVOLUTIONARY PETUNIAS & OTHER POEMS
IN LOVE & TROUBLE: STORIES OF BLACK WOMEN
ONCE (POEMS)
MERIDIAN
THE THIRD LIFE OF GRANGE COPELAND
GOOD NIGHT, WILLIE LEE, I’LL SEE You IN THE MORNING
You CAN’T KEEP A GOOD WOMAN DOWN: STORIES
IN SEARCH OF OUR MOTHERS’ GARDENS: WOMANIST PROSE
THE COLOR PURPLE
HORSES MAKE A LANDSCAPE LOOK MORE BEAUTIFUL
LIVING BY THE WORD
THE TEMPLE OF MY FAMILIAR
HER BLUE BODY EVERYTHING WE KNOW
POSSESSING THE SECRET OF JOY
WARRIOR MARKS
AT CHARTRES CATHEDRAL
A L I C E “ J F K - g .
rg—frf-
H o N o R 1 I
T
D I F F 1 c U
A Meditation on Life,
Spirit, Art, and the
Making of the Film
The Color Purple
Ten Years Later
SCRIBNER
NEW YORK LONDON TORONTO SYDNEY TOKYO SINGAPORE
é,
Scribner
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Copyright © 1996 by Alice Walker
All rights reserved,
including the right of “reproduction
in whole or in part in any form.
SCRIBNER and design are
trademarks of Simon €99 Schuster Inc.
Designed by Songhee Kim
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Catalogingdnqblication Data
Walker, Alice, date.
The same river twice : honoring the difficult : a meditation on life, spirit, art, and the making
of the film The color purple ten years later / Alice Walker.
p. cm
1 . Walker, Alice, date—Biography. 2. Afro’American women authors—20th century—Biog'
raphy. 3. Walker, Alice, date—Film and video adaptations. 4. Walker, Alice, date—Color
purple. 5. Afro—Americans in motion pictures. I. Title.
PS3573.A425Z47 I996
813' .54—dc20 95—30056
[B] C1 P
ISBN 0'684«81419—6
Photographs on pages 16, 59, 136, and 173 are by Robert Allen. The photograph on page 287
is copyright © 1986 Warner Bros. Inc.
The quote on page 21 is from Albert Camus, originally published in Resistance, Rebellion,
and Death by Albert Camus (Knopf, I 960). Reprinted by permission of Alfred A.
Knopf/Random House.
to whom the persistent
audaciousness of
Art
has kept me close.
And to Steven Spielberg and Quincy Jones
Magicians
Changelings:
the knock
at the
door.