V and the Recognitions

[Paul Kedrosky]

On 25 Jun 96 at 18:42, Peter Romanienko wrote:

> I remember reading on this list the fact that Pynchon (from what source I do
> not know) had not read the recognitions prior to at least GR (much like I
> suppose DFW hasn't/doesn't read/credit Pynchon). 

[Stuff deleted.]

I don't think that's true. I know of no Pynchonian introduction, blurb, short
story, or essay in which Mr. P. says that prior to writing V. (or Lot, or GR)
he had not read Gaddis's "Recognitions." If anyone can cite that for me, I'd
happily stand corrected.

If what you're really saying is that Pynchon has never explicitly acknowedged
the importance of Gaddis to his work, then fair enough -- but he's also never
explicitly acknowledged the important of a raft of other writers too, from
Kafka and Joyce onward. So his omission of Gaddis is hardly noteworthy, merely
par for Pynchon's reclusive course. 

Paul
pkedrosk at sms.ivey.uwo.ca
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