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The Story of Charlotte’s Web: E. B. White’s Eccentric Life in Nature and the Birth of an American Classic Audiobook
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(3.04) - 518 listener ratings
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As he was composing what was to become his most enduring and popular book, E. B. White was obeying that oft-repeated maxim: "Write what you know." Helpless pigs, silly geese, clever spiders, greedy rats—White knew all of these characters in the barns and stables where he spent his favorite hours. Painfully shy his entire life, "this boy," White once wrote of himself, "felt for animals a kinship he never felt for people." It's all the more impressive, therefore, how many people have felt a kinship with E. B. White.
With Charlotte's Web, which has gone on to sell more than forty-five million copies, the man William Shawn called "the most companionable of writers" lodged his own character, the avuncular author, into the hearts of generations of readers.
In The Story of Charlotte's Web, Michael Sims shows how White solved what critic Clifton Fadiman once called "the standing problem of the juvenile fantasy writer: how to find, not another Alice, but another rabbit hole" by mining the raw ore of his childhood friendship with animals in Mount Vernon, New York. Translating his own passions and contradictions, delights and fears, into an all-time classic. Blending White's correspondence with the likes of Ursula Nordstrom, James Thurber, and Harold Ross, the E. B. White papers at Cornell, and the archives of HarperCollins and the New Yorker into his own elegant narrative, Sims brings to life the shy boy whose animal stories—real and imaginary—made him famous around the world.
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"This was an interesting book about E.B. White and how he came to write Charlotte's Web. I enjoyed learning about his childhood and more about his work for The New Yorker. I had already read a memoir/biography about him and his wife Katharine and really enjoyed that too. They lived interesting lives."
— Liz (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Michael Sims’ The Story of Charlotte's Web is built on revealing glimpses of how ‘reality and fantasy make good bedfellows,’ as White himself wrote…In the best part of the book, Sims traces how much endless rewriting as well as research on spiderweb construction went into Charlotte's Web…The Story of Charlotte’s Web should encourage rereadings of Charlotte’s Web.”
— USA Today -
“Sims offers an affectionate homage to E. B. White and his enduring trio: a spunky farm girl, a smart spider, and a remarkable pig.”
— Entertainment Weekly -
“Tells the story of a shy author who ‘felt for animals a kinship he never felt for people,’ and who, at fifty, drew upon childhood memories of a stable in Mount Vernon, New York, to spin the iconic story of a spider who saved a pig.”
— Vogue -
“Michael Sims goes back to Zuckerman’s farm to weave the story of Charlotte’s Web.”
— Vanity Fair -
“Intriguing…Sims illuminates an era of journalism and essay-writing through the war. His style also sings in tune with White’s lyricism, especially in descriptions of nature and the farm.”
— Sunday Times (London) -
“A full, engaging account…Sims includes wonderful anecdotes…The Story of Charlotte’s Web unfolds in a way that White might have appreciated: it ambles, pauses to observe the smallest details, and takes its time. Best of all, this book is likely to encourage readers to experience the pleasures of White’s novel all over again.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“A fitting echo to the resolution of Charlotte’s Web…Sims’ research is thorough, his own prose clear, direct, and concise: the ultimate homage. His book is a lovely and empathetic testament to E. B. White’s vision of ‘nature publishing herself.’”
— Washington Post -
“Sims recounts the wellsprings—familial, psychological, environmental, historical, educational, emotional and every other ‘al’ you can think of—about the little novel that tells how a spider named Charlotte saved a pig named Wilbur from being rendered into bacon…Mr. Sims’ writing captures White’s affection for his creatures and fits the mood of his subject nicely.”
— Chicago Sun-Times -
“In this immensely charming book, Michael Sims sketches White’s life along with that of what is perhaps his most enduring creation, the children’s classic Charlotte’s Web.”
— Boston Globe -
“Sims reveals the development of writer E. B. White as he created one of the most cherished and popular of children’s books…Readers of Charlotte and Wilbur’s adventure will learn just how much care and thought was put into rendering this classic work.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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A Washington Post Notable Book
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A BookPage Notable Book
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Winner of an AudioFile Earphones Award
The Story of Charlotte’s Web Listener Reviews
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" Beautifully crafted biography as sensitive and poignant as White's own writing...very evocative of a time, long ago, when childhoods had the time for creativity and quiet. "
— Tina, 2/19/2014 -
" If I ever have a biographer, I hope he admires me as much as Michael Sims clearly admires E.B. White. Sims did an outstanding job of researching White's life. He gets (very) bogged down in the details of the research White did on spiders, but other than that, this was so interesting. If you enjoy reading White's books, you'll enjoy learning about how they came to be. "
— Linda, 2/18/2014 -
" Quite a bit of interesting information about E. B. White and his wife, Kathryn, but presented in a rather dull and lifeless fashion. Too bad, such an interesting writer of wonderful books... "
— Sharon, 2/9/2014 -
" Any book that makes me want to re-read Charlotte's Web and/or move to Maine is a beautiful one. This book did both. "
— Clare, 1/29/2014 -
" A fast but complete enough telling of E.B. White's literary career and particularly the writing of his most beloved book. I especially loved all the little details and name-dropping. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. "
— Rae, 1/29/2014 -
" I enjoyed learning more about who EB White was and his path to creating one of the world masterpieces - Charlotte's Web. I found his story fascinating and his story will interest anyone who wants to write a great book! "
— Sarah, 1/27/2014 -
" I loved this book and it's inspired me to go back and read all three children's books by E.B. White as well as some of his writings from The New Yorker. I highly recommend it! "
— Becky, 1/16/2014 -
" This started out slow and I had a hard time getting into the writer's style. However, I'm glad I pushed through and finished it because it was really interesting learning how one of my favorite books from childhood was written. "
— Lois, 1/11/2014 -
" A bit of a slow start and I more like skimmed it rather than intensely read it, but I found his life fascinating and loved learning the thought process behind his books. "
— Betsy, 1/8/2014 -
" Interesting profile of E.B. White. Focuses on his love of nature, but also lots of cool tidbits about The New Yorker and of course Charlotte's Web. "
— Maribeth, 1/6/2014 -
" The beginning was a little slow, but once he started writing the books it picked up and became pretty enjoyable. "
— Amara, 12/31/2013 -
" Well told account of the matters that informed E. B. Whites writing of Charlotte's Web; weaves a fascinating documentary of the creative process Highly recommended, especially for fans of White's book. "
— F, 11/19/2013 -
" Meh. Could have been an essay instead of a full-length book. "
— Claire, 9/9/2013 -
" The author brings E B White to life; his close, loving childhood, discovering the wonders of nature including the creatures who inhabit it. He truly "wrote what he knew". A must read for lovers of Charlott's Web. "
— Clare, 8/31/2013 -
" I gave this about an hour's try and just couldn't get into it. "
— Patricia, 9/14/2012 -
" Not done yet, but I love knowing about these wonderful writers from the New Yorker. "
— Cynthiaf, 7/28/2012 -
" Interesting subject but the author chose to include mind-numbing details that detracted from the book. "
— Kris, 5/15/2012 -
" A great look at the early life of EB White and how he came to write the beloved Charlotte's Web. Be warned--it will make you want to re-read Charlotte immediately! "
— Emily, 3/14/2012 -
" I could read this once a year. Delightful book that gave life to so many characters. "
— Desireé, 11/30/2011
About Michael Sims
Michael Sims is the author of several books, including The Story of Charlotte’s Web, which was named a best book of the year by the Washington Post and Boston Globe. He edits The Connoisseur’s Collection series of Victorian anthologies, including Dracula’s Guest, The Dead Witness, and The Phantom Coach.
About Nick Sullivan
Nick Sullivan has narrated audiobooks for over twenty years and has recorded over four hundred titles. An Audie Award winner, he is also the recipient of numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards. His TV and film credits include The Good Wife, The Affair, Bull, Boardwalk Empire, 30 Rock, Our Idiot Brother, and Private Life.