"Vanishing Act" by Paul Collins

Compared to the other essays I have read, “Vanishing Act” was the most different. The basic format and plot was similar, as the author, Paul Collins, took a look at the life of Barbara Follett, a writing prodigy who experienced much success at a young age, publishing her first book at age twelve. Her career begins to falter when her father leaves her and her mother, and eventually she abandons writing manuscripts. Follett becomes forgotten, just as other geniuses, such as Bobby Fischer, are lost to history.

            Collins seems to be directing his essay towards those who have an interest in writing. Though melancholy, this tale is very eye opening to the fact that there are others like Follett whose success and fame was short-lived, and in the end, they may have been left with next to nothing. I feel that, similar to the other essays I have read in this collection, the purpose of “Vanishing Act” is mainly to inform of the greats whose names are hidden, but who have achieved just as much as those whose names have headlined in every newspaper in New York.

                        The main focus, the story of Barbara Follett, was well chosen; not only is she a prime example of public abandonment, but her stories, particularly her first publication, The House Without Windows, derives the plot from an escape, and thus parallels her life. Follett escaped a number of times in her life, from a number of people, including her parents, and her husband, who she met as a teenager. In the end, her mother never found her, despite searching for years. I learned much about this Barbara Follett thanks to this essay, and therefore I would say it accomplished its purpose.

                        Collins is an associate professor of English at Portland State University, and is also an editor of the Collins Library, an imprint of McSweeney’s Books.

Barbara Follett at a young age.
Source: http://teenagefilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/large-portrait-from-follett-archive.jpg