" There were a number of books about Bill Wilson, and by him, but a lot of the basic biographical tasks had not been done. "
- Susan Cheever

The sentence suggests that there were several books written about Bill Wilson or by him, indicating a significant interest in his life and work. However, despite this abundance of literature, much fundamental biographical information had yet to be uncovered or thoroughly examined.

This statement hints at the idea that while many people might have been writing about Bill Wilson's life and achievements, there was still room for more comprehensive research into the basic facts of his biography. It implies a gap between existing literature and what could be achieved with deeper investigative efforts. This gap suggests that the current body of work may not fully capture the depth or nuance of Bill Wilson’s personal history.

Susan Cheever is an American writer known for her extensive work in biographical writing, including books about literary figures such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Edith Wharton. Her expertise lies in delving into the lives of influential individuals to provide readers with a detailed understanding of their backgrounds and contributions.