Unframed Originals: Recollections

Growing up in a repressed Presbyterian household, W. S. Merwin reflects on his youth in small river towns of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The memoir intricately portrays a family lacking language and history, illustrating the formation of a writer's conscience. It serves as both a personal narrative and a cautionary tale about the middle class's desire to erase their origins. Through vivid and intimate family portraits, Merwin offers readers a profound exploration of identity and the impact of familial isolation.