Wright Chat

The March 31, 2014 issue of The New Yorker contains a profile of Svetlana (Stalin) Alliluyeva, including a few paragraphs
on her marriage to Wes Peters and its aftermath. The opening page and the one with Taliesin references are reproduced below.

Svetlana passed away in November of 2011, in Richland Center, Wisconsin. She led a tumultuous life, by this and other accounts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Svetlana_Alliluyeva






COPYRIGHT © 2014 CONDE NAST

SDR, that should be (Stalin).

Interestingly the author visited S.A. in 2007 when she was living in a senior center in Spring Green, and again in 2008 when she was living in Richland Center. Curious that of all the places in the world, she should return to the valley of the god almighty Jones.

Thanks, RG -- a senior moment ?

That's right, Jim. No explanation is suggested, either in the Thompson piece nor in the Wikipedia one. Wes disappears from the story after their divorce; note however the words "She was still in love with Peters and had no desire to take anything from him."

SDR

If Svetlana is telling the truth here, perhaps the book "The Fellowship" was even a tad bit generous to Olga and life at Taliesin.


David

I recall reading in one of the books, not sure which, an account by Svetlana about Wes written in the '80's or '90's. I don't think it was Tafel's About Wright; it may have been Cornelia's Taliesin Tales, or a remembrance of Wes in one of the Quarterly mags. In the essay or interview, she spoke fondly of Peters and noted that it was ironic the architect who designed so many buildings would not design a home for himself, much like the cobbler's children going barefoot.
I got the sense Svetlana's issues were more with Olgivanna than Wes, but it would seem Wes' loyalty to Olgivanna and his unwillingness to leave what would appear to have been a feudal system, was the icing on the cake.

Another view:
http://www.marinij.com/ci_19435823

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... ghter.html

Both articles note Svetlana's continued respect and affection for Wes, but place the cause for the end of the marriage on Olgivanna's shoulders. Why go to the trouble to leave a first rate totalitarian system to be caught up in one that is second rate?

In her book "The Faraway Music," Svetlana doesn't let anyone off the hook. Olga, Wes and even Brandoch are treated quite harshly. Money played a big part in the relationships, and once Svetlana had been fleeced, her standing at Taliesin waned.

The impression I've always had of Svetlana is that she was a narcissist who brought much of her travails upon herself.

"I got the sense Svetlana's issues were more with Olgivanna than Wes, but it would seem Wes' loyalty to Olgivanna and his unwillingness to leave what would appear to have been a feudal system, was the icing on the cake."

That's certainly the message one gets from the New Yorker piece . . .

SDR