(np) Forward review of Bailey/Roth

[rich]

maybe you're right, Mark. I'm more interested in the future of such
biographies. I don't believe novelists have the same cache they used to.
not necessarily a lament here.

On Sun, May 30, 2021 at 1:42 PM Mark Kohut <mark.kohut at gmail.com> wrote:

> I am afraid I disagree with that meme (from articles) going around that he
> tried to control the narrative of his life post-life.
> Bailey had full access but Roth had NO countermanding conditions....no
> final read and edit.
>
> One of Roth's deepest themes is one CAN'T control one's life.....this is
> what happens to his characters who think they, like all of us so, are in
> free will "control' of our lives...
>
> All he did after he stopped writing was get his affairs in order as the
> phrase goes, reconnect with a lifetime of friends and acquaintances, play
> with other kids children, send
> working people who could not afford it to school for the career they
> wished they had; buy things for others......reconnect with his
> past.....time every day just to actively remember
> his past....
>
>
>
> On Sun, May 30, 2021 at 9:48 AM rich <richard.romeo at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> if there is any solace it's the fact that the time of the massive
>> literary biography is probably near its end. Times are different. The
>> number of worthy subjects is dwindling or voices have become so diffuse
>> (not a bad thing) or the state of publishing, novel writing as a career,
>> etc.
>> I'm not talking of literary criticism since I gather there will be plenty
>> of that for a slew of current writers in future. I mean a traditional bio.
>> who will really warrant one?
>> The irony of the Roth situation is his attempt to control the narrative
>> of his life post-life so like what he wrote about in many of his stories
>> while he was alive
>> Begs the question about Mr P of course. captive audience I know but I
>> cant think of another writer with potential for a trad biography. But like
>> the chance of any further new work by the man I remain highly in doubt.
>>
>> rich
>>
>> On Sun, May 30, 2021 at 8:13 AM Jochen Stremmel <jstremmel at gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> You probably knew the quote, I didn't. And I didn't want to support the
>>> tenor, only give an impression of the climate. (A man shouldn't have
>>> written this, if you ask me.)
>>>
>>> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>>>
>>> >
>>> --
>>> Pynchon-L: https://waste.org/mailman/listinfo/pynchon-l
>>>
>>