Writers’ Reactions To Age Differ

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 13

Writers ’ Reactions To Age Differ

LONDON, January 24. The American humorist, James Thurber, who is 66, has decided to spend half his time in Britain, says the “Daily Express.” He is coming to London shortly to star in his Broadway hit, “The Thurber Carnival.” The trouble with, America, said Mr Thurber, was that when a man had a success

“there is always a desperate, sickening urge to race on. It is a disease and I want no part of it. ■ “The pace in Britain is more civilised. You know, I have been counting up the men I knew in the writing business who have died before reaching my age. Do you know how many? One hundred and thirty. “Something I knew then was that the time had come to climb off the merry-go-round. I believe six months a year in Britain will do the trick. “I Shall only appear in a London production for two months. That is enough for a man of 66,’’ he said. Although he is blind, Mr Thurber appears in a sketch in which he plays himself—a harrassed writer coping with his Somerset Maugham, who will be 87 tomorrow, is furious with his doctor, according to the “Daily Mail.” He has been stopped from going to Moscow for a glorious spendup of all his rouble royalties, which have mounted up there. His secretary. Mr Alan Searle, said at the writer's villa at Cap Ferrat on the French Riviera: “Much to Mr Maugham's disgust his doctor has put his f ot down and insisted that he should not do

anything so exhausting. "We shall be going to Greece, instead in March.” Mr Searle said. "Mr Maugham’s comments on being 87 are quite unprintable.” The newspaper said that if Mr Maughan could not spend his. roubles in Russia he could not spend.them at all as they were not allowed out of the country.