The achievement of Evan S. Connell

Evan S. Connell | via

Even though Evan S. Connell, who died early last year, lived much of his adult life in the West, it is much more significant that he was born in Kansas City, Missouri. That is where he set his two indisputably great novels, Mrs. Bridge (1959) and Mr. Bridge (1969). From reading them, we feel we know the place well. There is Mission Hills, the country-club community where Walter and India Bridge make their home. The Aztec Room, where their truculent daughter Ruth announces that she will be the first of their children to leave the nest. The Terrace...