The Love Story of F.O. Matthiessen and Russell Cheney
A Union Like Ours: The Love Story of F.O. Matthiessen and Russell Cheney is a 2021 historical book by Scott Bane. In his book, Bane gives an account of the romantic relationship between literary scholar and educator F.O. Matthiessen and painter Russell Cheney. Through a combination of letters and documents from the couple, readers are able to see the progression of an early gay relationship that withstands professional achievements, illnesses, and addiction. A Union Like Ours is recommended for readers 18 years of age and older based upon its reading level and discussion of sexuality. Moreover, this book includes instances of suicidal ideation as well as alcoholism.
While on board the ship, Paris, in 1924, F.O. Matthiessen and Russell Cheney form a bond after confiding to one another about their gay identities. The two of them keep in contact over the years via letters and visits. F.O. Matthiessen becomes a professor of history and literature that leads him to teaching at Harvard University, whereas Cheney finds work as an artist. As their relationship develops, Matthiessen and Cheney eventually purchase a home together in Kittery, Maine. This home provides them the opportunity to create a relationship that is likened to a marriage, which is unheard of for gay couples at this point in time. Matthiessen and Cheney spend their free time going to the beach, entertaining with friends, and learning from each other’s respective fields. Though amongst these joyful moments, both men would confront their own struggles with Matthiessen battling depression in addition to Cheney’s dependence on alcohol and bouts of tuberculosis. In the end, Russell Cheney dies unexpectedly of a blood clot. Matthiessen continues to research and write until his death by suicide in 1950.
As a whole, Scott Bane effectively weaves together an historical account of a queer romance that readers will find remarkable and heartfelt. A majority of A Union of Like Ours relies on quotes taken from Matthiessen and Cheney’s letters to advance the narrative, and they are a testament to the couple’s commitment to one another. In addition to the quotes, photographs along with drawings that are documented in the “Notes” section validate Bane’s statements. With respect to Bane’s findings, it is often surprising how open Matthiessen and Cheney’s relationship is, given that this historical period did not have any legal protections for same-sex couples. Bane reasons that Matthiessen and Cheney are afforded privileges due to their professions that facilitate a level of ease in their relationship. This ease makes it possible for them to create a chosen family of friends and associates—a concept that is common in the LGBTQ+ community.
Although Matthiessen and Cheney could not publicly acknowledge their gay identities, the two of them express themselves by reading about homosexuality and creating art. For both of them, studies from the emerging field of Human Sexuality give them a feeling of contentment in knowing that there are others like them. Apart from Cheney’s regionalist paintings (like the one of their home shown above), he painted the tough guys he was attracted to. A Union Like Ours offers readers a look at a first of its kind paradigm of a gay relationship that can be admired for its steadfast commitment.
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