Dale Salwak, Writers and Their Teachers, Bloomsbury Academic 2023.

Thank you NetGalley and Bloomsbury Academic for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Dale Salwak is known to me through his inspiring collection of papers about Barbara Pym. It is thrilling to find yet another aspect of his work, and here Salwak also excels. Writers and Their Teachers is a collection of memoirs of varying lengths and styles in which writers recall their mentors. At the same time as finding new writers through their mentorship of more contemporary writers, some of the latter may also be a surprise. For the writers and mentors featured in this collection are not always those who may be household names, those publicised through prizes or best sellers. Salwak has done more. He has brought together an inspired collection that is a joy to read, in short bursts, or as a continuous introduction to old and new names and ideas about the meaning of mentorship and teaching.

Salwak’s Preface is an excellent introduction to the ideas that fostered this collection. He writes of his own experience in school and the value of being seen as having potential by one of his teachers. He used this idea as the impetus for approaching the twenty writers in this collection to portray their experiences and ideas about the value of the teaching and mentors that they believe contributed to their writing. Salwak makes the point that not all teachers are found in the classroom, using as an example Michael Scammel’s role model, Anthony Brode, theatre critic and editor at the Southern Daily Echo where Scammel worked as a copy boy. Another writer, Anne Thwaite, reflects upon the value of correspondence while she was away at school. The role of her father’s contribution to Catherine Aird’s crime novels and their reliance on her knowledge of forensics is another. The breadth and interest in thinking about what makes a mentor is apparent from these examples.

Some of the contributions were particularly poignant, others were joyous laugh aloud reminiscences, some writers excelled in giving less well-known mentors recognition that will introduce readers to a host of stimulating new and old work. Contributions I particularly liked include George Howe Colt’s writing about his friend R.L. Farnsworth during their school days. What a joyous read that one is. J.M. Coetzee’s story takes the reader to South Africa. He is not alone in taking the collection away from a Eurocentric view to open up the possibilities of a range of writers, styles, locations and cultures.


The book is divided into sections that give the reader the opportunity to also separate mentors who were schoolteachers; those who contributed to the author’s writing skills through their college years; and graduate school and after. The notes on contributors are short but provide enough detail to point the way to whether you, as a reader, would like to pursue their work. The contributions do the same for the mentors. So, together with the wonderful reading in Salwak’s collection, it opens further prospects for further reading.

Maybe it is because I’m a high school teacher, maybe it’s because I want to be a writer, but this book really hit close to my heart. I love reading how teachers/mentors have impacted the lives of students. The book is filled with essays from various famous authors, a couple of whom I respect very much. I especially liked the contributions from J. M. Coetzee, Margaret Drabble and Ngugi wa Thiong’o. If you enjoy reading about what and who inspires some of our writing greats then you will love this book.
A suitable mentor text to use re: style, non-fiction, memoir.

When first reading the synopsis, I had hoped to find some insight into the methods which teachers used to teach creative writing. As a fellow practitioner, I was excited to delve a lot more deeply into the practices of the past to utilise or rework in modern classrooms so I was a little let down that it wasn't so much about practice than it was about reminiscing. The essays within the book contain some ways in which teachers have chosen to introduce creative writing, but it was mostly geared towards the relationship between the authors and their journey into creative writing which was helped by their respective teachers. It does serve to highlight just how important a teacher's job is in inspiring a love for creative writing which was lovely to read but ultimately misses the mark in really showcasing the 'hows' of it all. I will say that the collection does a fantastic job of relating their experiences in a linear fashion - starting from high school and journeying through many recollections into further education which does help immerse the reader into the 'journey'. Overall a good read for teachers who may want a reassuring and heart-warming rendition of their craft.

I found the premise of this book so interesting. The impact that teachers have on great writers is often mentioned in a throw off sentence but never have I heard of someone really reflecting on their past relationship with teachers. It was at times, often equal parts funny and Inspiring.

I really enjoyed this collection of essays. I didn’t know a lot of the authors but still found it enjoyable learning about how the writers’ life was shaped. I found the writing incredibly reflective and moving.

Whether you’re a teacher or not, we’ve all had a mentor in the past of some form. And because of this, I think everyone can relate to these collection of essays in some way or other. It certainly left me with a smile on my face and yes, I did go and email my year 11 English teacher after reading it and say thank you.

Writers and Their Teachers edited by Dale Salwak (Bloomsbury, May 2023) is an enlightening collection of essays by 20 different world-renowned authors, delving into the influential figures who shaped their writing journeys. The book gives a diverse range of perspectives, allowing for an anthology that many will enjoy reading.

The anthology contains contributions from twenty different writers spanning various genres, such as poets, biographers, historians, novelists (including a detective novelist), and book reviewers. Some of the essays adopt a more academic tone, focusing on how specific teachers propelled these authors towards success in their careers. I’ll be honest, some of those essays were simply not very interesting to me, especially when I was unfamiliar with the writer.

I really did enjoy the more personal essays. These centered around the authors’ experiences with a teacher in early childhood or with a particular individual that, as one essayist put it, “made him feel adequate to the task.” These narratives provided a heartfelt and intimate glimpse into the formative years of a writer, showcasing the profound impact that certain individuals had on their development. Such an individual can be labeled a teacher when he or she instills confidence in the writer, either as a person or as a writer or both. The personal touch in these essays resonated with me.

While I was familiar with a handful of the essayists, my lack of familiarity with the others did not diminish my interest in the essays. The collection effectively illustrates how a lifetime of interactions and influences shapes a writer’s desire to write. As for selecting the teachers who have most impacted me personally, it is a thought-provoking exercise. There are so many people who have influenced my self-confidence in writing, and I’m grateful for all of them.

So, now I pose the question back to you: If you were to select the teachers who have most impacted you, who would you choose? I am genuinely curious to hear your thoughts.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance review copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“Writers and Their Teachers, by Dale Salwak (NetGalley Shelf App (PDF), Bloomsbury Academic, ISBN 9781350272262, Publication Date 18 May 2023), earns three stars.

This is a collection of twenty original essays by some of the more influential writers who were shaped by their teachers.

This book explores a series of questions, e.g., what makes a good teacher, what inspires writers, and how can writing mentors shape their proteges? From mere chance to deliberate instruction are among the answers, and the discussion of such things not only reveals something about those involved, but it also informs the reader about influences at work in their life. It was a n intriguing read.

Sincere thanks to the author, and Kindle Edition (PDF) and Bloomsbury Academic Publishing, for granting this reviewer the opportunity to read this Advance Reader Copy (ARC), and thanks to NetGalley EPUB for helping to make that possible.

A great informative read for aspiring writers! I definitely would recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading books that are not only knowledgeable but interesting to read as well and keep the audience entertained.

This was a really heartwarming read and an appreciation for such an important profession, though boring in places.

This is a collection of essays by various writers and poets about their beginnings in a literary field. Who planted a seed of passion for the language and stories? Who inspired them to write for the very first time?
As much as I like the concept of this book, unfortunately, I can´t say I enjoyed it. Probably because only a few of the authors I'm familiar with. Only one essay grasped my attention and sparked an interest in Bantu languages. It´s by Ngugi wa Thiong'o, about whom I never heard of, but after reading this particular piece of writing and after having a conversation with my dear Kenyan friend I´ll make sure to read some of Ngugi´s work.

A really interesting look at the influences on well known writers. Not all essays were memorable but this would be a great book for teachers.

A wonderful sweet. read an ode by the writers to those special teachers who taught and inspired them.A book that shows the importance of that advisor the guide that helped them in their writing.#netgalley #bloomsburyacademic.

Some misses among many hits At least one essay in this collection is sure to move and enrich the reader. It was definitely intriguing to get a behind-the-scenes kind of look at some famous names.

A sweet read with some easily-recognizable names, Writers and Their Teachers is an excellent reminder of the impact educators, especially writing teachers, have on their pupils.

In this book a myriad of voices describe the impact that teachers had upon their lives, from helping find out more about themselves to the impact that they had on their eventual careers.

Although an English student, I have to confess I have only heard of 5 essayists in this book. I suspect this is because I studied in the UK whereas this book has been edited by an American professor. I personally would have liked it if there were a few more recognisable writers to me but having said that, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment.

As you’d suspect of a book written by many different people, there are multiple different styles here. My personal favourites are from those who write about teachers that impacted them when they were young. These have a beautiful poetic quality - the teachers become not human beings but mythic superheroes. The beauty and lyricism used to describe the impact these people had on their lives was quite inspiring. For me this lessened for those writers who described encounters with teachers when they were older & I didn’t feel as moved or connected. However this didn’t happen in all cases - the comradeship described by George Howe Colt was something I particularly enjoyed.

Unfortunately it didn’t feel like all the essays had the same quality & one in particular I really disliked as it seemed to smack more of self-promotion than anything else. For me this went against the ethos of the book. Luckily this essay is nearer the middle & so the book could get over this small blip by the end.

Thank you to the publishers & to NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC.

A very interesting book. A look back at teachers and mentors who inspired so many of today's modern writers.
From all walks of academic life from primary to doctorate supervisors they had a profound impact on the writer.

'Writers and Their Teachers' is an anthology of personal essays in which distinguished writers such as Margaret Drabble, J.M. Coetzee, Stephen Greenblatt and Paul Theroux reflect on teachers who influenced them. These include schoolteachers, college lecturers, mentors and friends. As an English teacher, this book held an obvious appeal for me, and includes some lovely observations about the nature of teaching: the value of genuine praise (editor Dale Salwak opens the collection by reflecting on the impact of his teacher's six words 'I think that you have potential') but also of fair criticism: the way that we often fail to understand our the challenges our teachers have faced at the time and only appreciate this in hindsight; and the fact that our teachers often have feet of clay, as is shown in the final two essays in which Dana Gioia and Paul Theroux offer clear-sighted but generous appraisals of Donald Davie and V.S. Naipaul respectively.

As with any anthology, readers will find some contributions more engaging than others. I particularly enjoyed those essays in which writers were able to articulate that strange alchemical process by which certain teachers are able to inspire certain pupils, for instance Jay Parini's discussion of how mentors 'get under your skin in the best ways, and you become them, taking on their voice, their manner of inhabiting the world', or Robert Boyers's description of how George Steiner 'invited his students to meet him, if at all possible, not as subordinates but as co-conspirators sworn, as it were, to risk everything in the effort to get to the bottom of a passage, an idea, an irresolvable dispute.' Some essays also offer fascinating glimpses of the past, such as Margaret Drabble's account of teaching at an adult-education college in the 1960s and 1970s. I was slightly less interested by essays in which writers offered lengthy CVs both of themselves and their teachers, particularly those from American literary academic circles in which many of the names referenced were unfamiliar to me. But all the essays demonstrate a sincere appreciation of the lasting impact a great teacher can have, and will provide much encouragement to writers and teachers alike. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book to review.

A treasure trove of the craft of writing and the art of teaching it in ways that manage to go beyond correcting grammar. I particularly enjoyed Stephen Greenblatt’s piece about his doctoral dissertation supervisor, as the supervisor-student relationship is so important and formative. Being supported and inspired by your supervisor is key, and Greenblatt’s essay beautifully conveys how the relationship continued long after dissertation submission and letters of recommendation. A reflective, quiet joy to read.