WHEN ALL THE MEN WORE HATS Susan Cheever on the Stories of John Cheever

Forty years after she wrote of her father's life in HOME BEFORE DARK, Susan Cheever, eldest daughter of renowned writer John Cheever, narrates her "sequel of sorts." Using the lens of her father's work, she analyzes and finds connections between his life and hers. Cheever's delivery gives equal weight to the strands she skillfully weaves. Excerpts from her father's literary work and journals are braided with contextual facts and her own memories. Her appreciation of his gift and of their deep attachment is balanced with memories of feeling exploited as his story settings moved from Westchester suburban swimming pools to the family dinner table. She's open about his writing, his homosexuality, and his alcoholic binges. Cheever's honesty and depth are matched by her eloquence. S.W. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2025]