This astute, deeply researched biography sheds light on Tennessee Williams's warring family, his guilt, his creative triumphs and failures, his sexuality and numerous affairs, his misreported death, even the shenanigans surrounding his estate.

Blood-hot and personal -- The heart can't wait -- The erotics of absence -- Fugitive mind -- Thunder of disintegration -- Beanstalk country -- Kookhood -- Waving and drowning -- The long farewell -- The sudden subway.