4.5
The Rush for Second Place
ByPublisher Description
An essential collection of nonfiction essays by the National Book Award winning author of J R and A Frolic of His Own
William Gaddis published only four novels during his lifetime, but with those works he earned himself a reputation as one of America's greatest novelists. Less well known is Gaddis's body of excellent critical writings. Here is a wide range of his original essays, some published for the first time. From "'Stop Player. Joke No. 4,'" Gaddis's first national publication and the basis for his projected history of the player piano, to the title essay about missed opportunities in America during the past fifty years, to "Old Foes with New Faces," an examination of the relationship between the writer and the problem of religion-this diverse collection displays the power of an autonomous literary intelligence in an age increasingly dominated by political and religious conservatism.
William Gaddis published only four novels during his lifetime, but with those works he earned himself a reputation as one of America's greatest novelists. Less well known is Gaddis's body of excellent critical writings. Here is a wide range of his original essays, some published for the first time. From "'Stop Player. Joke No. 4,'" Gaddis's first national publication and the basis for his projected history of the player piano, to the title essay about missed opportunities in America during the past fifty years, to "Old Foes with New Faces," an examination of the relationship between the writer and the problem of religion-this diverse collection displays the power of an autonomous literary intelligence in an age increasingly dominated by political and religious conservatism.
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4.5
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“This has been my commute read over the last couple of weeks (I like to take something different on my travels in addition to whatever is the main current read at home (plus hardbacks are not easy to travel with and get damaged)).
If you’ve read lots of Gaddis, or like me are in the wondrous process of discovering it all, then I found this is a great complimentary book, not only for the rarer, never before published pieces, but also in helping me to gain a fuller understanding of Gaddis’ approaches and intentions as a writer, and his views on religion, politics and of course the matter of art v technology, which features in so much of his writing.
If you’ve not read any of his work before, this could be a useful induction – the introduction by Joseph Tabbi is super informative and helpful – but I think you’d get more out of it if you’ve already experienced at least some his of genius in it’s completed form.
Standout piece in this collection for me was the essay ‘Old Foes with New Faces’.”
Justin
Created over 3 years agoShare
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About William Gaddis
William Gaddis (1922-1998) was a master of the American novel who was frequently compared with Joyce, Nabokov, and Pynchon. Two of his novels, J R and A Frolic of His Own, won the National Book Award. He was a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the recipient of a MacArthur Prize.
Joseph Tabbi was the first scholar to be given access to the Gaddis archives. He conducts research in American literature and new media writing at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Joseph Tabbi was the first scholar to be given access to the Gaddis archives. He conducts research in American literature and new media writing at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Joseph Tabbi was the first scholar to be given access to the Gaddis archives. He conducts research in American literature and new media writing at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Joseph Tabbi was the first scholar to be given access to the Gaddis archives. He conducts research in American literature and new media writing at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
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