Why people recommend it
The Folded Leaf is a classic coming-of-age novel by American author William Maxwell that explores the complex, intense, and enduring friendship between two young men navigating the challenges of school and early adulthood in the mid-twentieth century. On an episode of The Book Review titled A.O. Scott Talks About William Maxwell, guest A.O. Scott discussed the author's body of work and singled out this specific text. Scott expressed profound admiration for the publication, describing it as a truly extraordinary piece of writing and noting that it was among the first pieces of Maxwell's fiction that he personally encountered. During the conversation, Scott briefly referenced the title again while mapping out the chronological sequence of Maxwell's early literary achievements, specifically placing it alongside other foundational novels in the author's impressive bibliography. Although the discussion was brief, Scott's praise highlighted the lasting impact of Maxwell's prose and cemented the novel as a standout work within the broader context of mid-century American literature, drawing renewed attention to a writer celebrated for his quiet, piercing observations of human relationships, emotional vulnerability, and the delicate intricacies of personal growth across changing landscapes and decades.
Who recommended it
- AO Scott Recommended
AO Scott — 2 mentions
“and a lot of the earlier books starting with time will darken it and also the folded Leaf his third and fourth novels I said them in the wrong order”
“I think his third novel The folded Leaf is a really extraordinary book and was I think the second thing of his that I read”