John Gardner

[Peter Petto]

He was teaching where I was learning (Northwestern) shortly after Gravity's
Rainbow came out. At that time he praised Pynchon on many occasions. He
thought that V. was absolutely fabulous. He didn't like Gravity's Rainbow,
but I doubt that he would have been party to mudslinging against it. I
think he admired its effort. He said writers should go big, which TRP
always did, even if not to JG's personal liking.

I wasn't allowed in his classes, not being in the English Department and
never having taken a course from them. But I did sit in the back of
several,-- no one objected, and went to a few public readings he did on
campus and in town.

He seemed like a really nice guy to me. I'm always surprised by folks who
seem to have it in for him.


Peter Petto		|  ppetto at apk.net
Bay Village, OH		|  public key available