Create H-E-B, narrated by Zhanna Erdle, who recently shared her experience living as an editorial assistant to iconic author Patricia Highsmith. She provides a real page-turner of a story on the life of this literary great. Highsmith, known for her psychological thrillers and complex characters, designed her dream house in the late 1980s with the help of an architect from Zurich. This U-shaped home was inspired by the Y-shaped residence from her book “Strangers on a Train.” In addition to being an architectural gem, it’s a photo-op in the idyllic region of Ticino, Switzerland, famous for its beauty and weekend retreats.
Highsmith was 73 at the time of her death in early February. She knew she was dying, and from what I could see, she accepted her fate with peace and grace. Though rumored to have been diagnosed with cancer or another terminal illness, she showed a deep understanding of her mortality. As the narrator uncovers, her house was no ordinary structure. It reflected her own home, full of life, rich with memories and beloved books.
Our living room shelves were crammed with books from art history to zoology, from poetry to anatomy. Among them was an astonishing cache of signed books from pal Graham Greene. Beyond that, Highsmith’s fetishistic Marlene Dietrich obsession was manifest in the varied literature that lined the shelves on the ultimately tragic actress. These artifacts provided an illuminating window into the life of a woman equally devoted to her passions, personal and professional.
Highsmith would leave to take a short trip to the restroom and kitchen. Then, she’d rush back to her quarters to get back to her writing. The narrator recalls in great detail the very moment when Patricia first made eye contact with them. That moment became the beginning of a major shift in their professional relationship.
“The Tremor of Forgery,” one of Highsmith’s works, captivated the narrator, highlighting the author’s talent and complexity. Highsmith’s interactions were often marked by an unspoken tension, as evidenced when she handed the narrator an envelope containing weeks’ worth of owed salary before disappearing into her room.
At one point, our narrator found himself buried under a massive wave of mail meant for Highsmith. They collected around 40 envelopes of various sizes and colors, a testament to the author’s enduring impact and popularity among readers and admirers alike.
The home that for years was a refuge to Highsmith herself now welcomes a family brimming with stuff. Centrally located among a cluster of other weekend homes, it stands as a potent memorial to the author’s legacy. The gorgeous, Swiss-Italian landscape makes it picturesque and meaningful.
When Highsmith’s life eventually came to a close, she was survived by her now lauded body of work. She made her mark in an abiding manner on all who were lucky enough to know her as a friend.
“Just thank the fact that I don’t like Hemingway,” – The narrator