The Boys of Winter

The Boys of Winter (1987) is a work of satirical fiction by British-American author, critic, and essayist Wilfrid Sheed (1915-2011). The novel is also an example of metafiction, which is fiction that addresses the topic of fiction in some way. In The Boys of Winter, the narrative centers on a literary community. Jonathon Oglethorpe is writing a novel (The Boys of Winter) and literary passages from his clients (he is an editor) appear in the narrative. The novel deals with themes of jealousy, power, desire, despair, helplessness, literature, friendship, and love. Sheed’s narrative is praised for its use of wit and comedy to satirize New England’s literary upper crust.

A writer and New York book editor/publisher possessing biting wit and humor, Jonathon Oglethorpe is middle-aged and divorced. He resides in the Hamptons for both his summers and winter weekends. Jonathon’s group of friends (or frenemies), includes four writers. The first two are Cecily Woodruff and Ferris Fender. Cecily is a popular writer, and Ferris, a “manly homosexual,” is a Civil War historian. Jonathon consistently publishes their works. The other two in the group are Billy van Dyne, who desperately wants Jonathon to publish his work (and who has true talent), and Waldo Spinks, a fading literary star.

The plot soon thickens when Waldo, who has previously agreed to let Jonathon publish his next novel, allows Jonathon to read some of the work-in-progress. Upon reading the manuscript, Jonathon learns that Waldo is writing about their Hampton enclave and friends, satirizing an editor (who seems strangely similar to Jonathon’s real-life role as an editor). What really upsets Jonathon, however, is that he is actually writing his own novel, and his novel is also about their group of friends in the Hampton enclave. Tired of dealing with the writing of what he considers second-rate novelists, Jonathon is eager to tell his story. Waldo’s novel appears to throw a wrench into his plans. As the narrative of The Boys of Winter progresses, Jonathon must face feelings of insecurity, jealousy, and rivalry, as well as attempt to check his ego and his anger.



The plot is pulled forward by the promise and eventual reality of a softball team comprising the friends. Tensions soon arise on the team as well. Some of the best passages in the novel, however, are scenes between the friends that take place at the local watering hole, Jimmy’s Bar. Jonathon and his friends roast the locals as they drink and talk literature. Many critics have agreed that Sheen is best at his descriptive powers and witty banter in these passages while the softball subplot falls flat.

One of the major plot points comes about when a popular Hollywood movie director Marty Hearthstone vacations in the Hamptons. The local writers begin turning on one another after Marty makes promises of movie options. Moreover, his Hollywood entourage turns a softball game into a competition between Hollywood and the Hampton writers. As the novel steers toward its conclusion, the narrative turns sharply and, to many critics, oddly. The dark-comedy genius of the novel is replaced by melodrama. In this twist, Waldo self-destructs, attempting to kill a movie producer because of a rejection, and Jonathon matures—though he is promiscuous, he settles down with Cecily. Both of these major outcomes beg believability because these characters aren’t fully fleshed out enough to warrant their decisions.

Despite the novel’s perceived flaws, Sheed’s narrative paints a vivid, comical depiction of infighting and jealousy. This infighting is common to the literary community, as Sheed suggests. It is especially a major topic within the larger context of editors/agents versus writers. Writers perceive themselves as doing the hard work, while agents and editors get rich of their toil. Sheed addresses these grudges and shortcomings, as he has done in other novels. Sheed’s other works include The Hack, Max Jamison, Office Politics, and Transatlantic Blues, among many others.