Remember the time, ages ago, where we could sit back and debate whether or not Woody Allen’s memoir should have been dropped by its publisher? Oh wait, that was only just over two weeks ago? Shit. Well, with COVID-19 (coronavirus) making many folks around the world experience each day as if it was its own week, that feels like an eternity ago. Either way, it’s time to talk about Allen’s book, once again.
According to THR, Arcade Publishing has picked up the rights to Allen’s “Apropos of Nothing” and has released the memoir, fairly quietly, today, while everyone seems to be preoccupied with their own personal health and the well-being of the general population.
The publisher announced, “The book is a candid and comprehensive personal account by Woody Allen of his life, ranging from his childhood in Brooklyn through his acclaimed career in film, theater, television, print and standup comedy, as well as exploring his relationships with family and friends.”
As you might expect from a memoir, specifically one written by Allen, a filmmaker that has had his share of controversy over the decades, “Apropos of Nothing” covers a wide range of topics, from his career to those issues in his personal life. And considering those controversies consist of leaving his partner for her adopted daughter and allegedly molesting his partner’s underage daughter, you may understand why folks are keen to see what Allen has to say about those situations.
The filmmaker talked about his marriage to Soon-Yi, the aforementioned adopted daughter of his partner, Mia Farrow. When presented with the idea of doing it all over again and not marrying the young woman, knowing the headlines the union would make, he writes, “I always answered I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”
As for the alleged sexual abuse of Dylan Farrow, his partner’s young daughter, Allen remains defiant and defensive.
“I never laid a finger on Dylan, never did anything to her that could be even misconstrued as abusing her; it was a total fabrication from start to finish,” Allen writes.
READ MORE: Woody Allen Settles His $68 Million Lawsuit Against Amazon
However, according to Allen, there is a bit of a silver lining to becoming a pariah in America, where he’s unable to find distribution for his most recent film work. You see, due to the “injustice” he’s faced, Allen feels like he could join the likes of D.H. Lawrence and James Joyce, as artists that are more beloved outside of their home countries.
“I can’t deny that it plays into my poetic fantasies to be an artist whose work isn’t seen in his own country and is forced, because of injustice, to have his public abroad,” Allen writes. “Henry Miller comes to mind. D.H. Lawrence. James Joyce. I see myself standing amongst them defiantly. It’s about at that point my wife wakes me up and says, ‘You’re snoring.'”
Can you fault the guy for trying to make a joke about all of this? Oh wait, don’t answer that.
(Note: An earlier version of this article incorrectly referred to Mia Farrow as Woody Allen’s ex-wife. The couple never married, despite being together for 12 years. Apologies.)