John Gardner

[Peter Giordano]

Richard askes:
>Was JG on the "GR obscene, unreadable" committee? Plowing thru _Sunlight
>Dialogues_ at the moment...just curious.

I say:
I heard John Gardner lecture around the time that ON MORAL FICTION came out
and he made his unhappiness with TRP pretty clear - I believe that less 
harsh comments are 
included in the book but I can't be sure

Gardner is certainly a worthy, albeit underappreciated, writer - SUNLIGHT 
DIALOGUES and
GRENDEL stand out - I love the fact that he worked so hard to include 
illustrations in almost all his books - I happen to have collected quite a 
set of 1st editions from RESURRECTION to his latest (postumous) works so I 
might be considered biased

It is very interesting to also consider Gardner's lasting impact on a number 
of American authors currently in vogue - See for example the dedication in 
BATTING AGAINST CASTRO

Peter Giordano
Williams College
Williamstown, MA