'Truth and Beauty,' a Tale of Friendship

By Melissa Block

Published May 11, 2004 at 12:00 AM EDT

In writer Lucy Grealy's 1994 memoir Autobiography of a Face, she told of the facial bone cancer that ravaged her jaw and the years of pain and treatment that followed: radiation, chemotherapy and dozens of surgeries.

Lucy Grealy died in 2002 at age 39. She had spiraled into drug abuse and tried to kill herself several times. Her death was ruled an accidental overdose.

Now, the novelist Ann Patchett has written her own memoir: the story of her friendship with Grealy. The two met as undergraduates and their friendship grew along with their careers as writers. In Truth and Beauty: A Friendship, Patchett writes about Grealy's courage and her love of life. NPR's Melissa Block talks with Patchett about Grealy's life.

Melissa Block

As special correspondent and guest host of NPR's news programs, Melissa Block brings her signature combination of warmth and incisive reporting. Her work over the decades has earned her journalism's highest honors, and has made her one of NPR's most familiar and beloved voices.

See stories by Melissa Block

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Donate