NBCC/Paris Review “Name that Author” Contest #8: The Finale

by admin | Nov-20-2008

This week Critical Mass continues to publish excerpts from interviews with former National Book Critics Circle award winners and finalists included in the venerable Paris Review “Writers at Work” series; the third volume has just been published by Picador. The reader who first correctly identifies the author will be rewarded with a complete three-volume set of the collected Paris Review interviews. Send your answers to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Please put “Name that Author” in the subject header.

Here is the eighth and final installment. Which NBCC award winner/finalist had this to say when questioned by the Paris Review interviewer?

“As for readings, I gave a reading in 1947 at Wellesley College two months after my first book appeared. And I was sick for days ahead of time. Oh, it was absurd. And then I did one in Washington in ’49 and I was sick again and nobody could hear me. And then I didn’t give any for twenty-six years. I don’t mind reading now. I’ve gotten over my shyness a bit. I think teaching helps. I’ve noticed that teachers aren’t shy. They’re rather aggressive. They get to be, finally.”

Send your answer to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)  and please put “Name that Author” in the subject heading. And thanks to all for your guesses, accurate or not, over this past two weeks.

Labels: Author Interviews, Industry News