How The Bagger Vance Legend Was Born
Steven Pressfield, who gained fame with his first book titled “The Legend of Bagger Vance: The Golf Novel and the Game of Life” published in 1995, is a determined writer who has worked hard for his writing career until then. Pressfield, who earned his living by working in different jobs until he became famous like many successful writers, has been rewarded for his efforts as a true perseverance.
The Legend of Bagger Vance tells the story of a friendship that develops between people from two different worlds and is eventually crowned with success. The story in the book, directed by Robert Redford and transferred to the big screen in 2000, takes place in 1931. Rannulph (Matt Damon), a successful golfer in his youth, faces problems in his new life after returning from the war as a war hero. He is invited to participate with two successful players in a tournament held for the opening ceremony of a newly opened golf course in his hometown. But Rannulph is in a depleted state. When he encounters a mysterious carrier named Bagger Vance (Will Smith), things will suddenly change and he will cling to life and golf again thanks to him.
Steven Pressfield, in his book "The War of Creation," describes how this first book came about: "The Legend of Bagger Vance" of the scenario When the idea first started to form in my head, I was in a period where my breath smelled of hunger. The idea actually came as a book, not a movie. I went to my manager to give the bad news. We both knew very well that first novels last forever and never sell. Worse still, something about golf novel Although there was a publishing house to print it, it was inevitable that such a book would not be sold and would go to the remnant books. But the Muse was with me. I had to write this book. Indeed, the book was an astonishing success; it also had its share of this success commercially; In fact, it was the most lucrative of all the jobs I've ever done. You ask why? My guess is this: I knew what I wanted. I was confident in my will. I didn't care about what could be good. what according to myself interesting I thought it might be; I left the rest of the work to the gods.”
Source: Steven Pressfield (2011) The War of Creation, Okuyan Us Publications (Trans: Erdem Interest Akter) Istanbul, p.156
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