Complete Short Stories of James Purdy

Apparently a forgotten rising star from the 50s early 60s.  Highly regarded by other american authors of the time, like Gore Vidal, Tennessee Williams, Dorothy Parker, Langston Hughes.  Again, somewhat in that american gothic tradition somehow - a certain element of darkness, of monstrous, of rot beneath a facade of elegance.  Having flipped through this very thick book and read a random selection of short stories, there are certain themes that seem to recur:  the vacuous life of the 50s housewife in isolated small town or suburban universes; fallen and depraved wealth.  Many, if not most, of the stories feature women as main characters and explore the subtle feelers of communication between women in world with men on the margin.  Not as dark as James Saunders but perhaps it is a question of different eras.  I suppose in the world of 'Leave it to Beaver" these stories would seem dark enough.