Brainard Cheney published in Shenandoah a positive review of Flannery O’Connor’s first novel, Wise Blood. After receiving a copy of the review, O’Connor asked after Cheney and reached out to him. Thus began a correspondence and friendship that lasted until O’Connor’s death in 1964. Below, Cheney assures O’Connor that he enjoyed his last visit despite a “grim incident,” in which a tenant of O’Connor’s mother, Regina, was pulled into a hay bayler. “Shot” had been tinkering with the engine while the machine was on. Although no bones were broken, Shot was badly burned and “some big gaps of flesh” were torn out.
June Thirteenth [1961]
Dear Flannery & Regina,
It may seem irresponsible of us to speak of the delights of our visit with you all, since the near fatal and grim incident involving you. But we just cannot deny that we had a wonderful time!
And, after all, if you had to have one of your hands caught in the hay baler, it could have been a lot worse!
But it was a great satisfaction to find you both so equal to eventualities and stout of heart. We sure did eat high of the hog and the sights of Andalusia Farm were never more spectacular in their beauty.
We did not get home finally until about 1 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. Conveniently our guests didn’t arrive til 5 o’clock. We bade them godspeed this morning. They ([Fannie’s] brother Collier and wife) are heading for Mexico in a few days.
Please give our thanks and warm regards to Miss Mary [O’Connor’s aunt] and our sympathy to Shot!
With love to you both,
Lon
From The Correspondence of Flannery O’Connor and the Brainard Cheneys. Edited by C. Ralph Stephens. Jackson: University of Mississippi Press, 1986. pp. 135.
FURTHER READING
Listen to O’Connor read her short story, “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” which Cheney edited.
Read Cheney’s essay, “Flannery O’Connor’s Campaign for Her Country” written shortly after O’Connor’s death.
Read O’Connor on “Some Aspects of the Grotesque in Southern Fiction” (1960).