What We’re Doing When We Think We’re Doing Nothing
I’ve always liked it that the actor Richard Burton could admit in his diaries: “I am fascinated by the idea … Continue Reading What We’re Doing When We Think We’re Doing Nothing
If you enjoy what you read here every day…
I’ve never made this request before, but if you enjoy reading what I post here at Human Pages, please consider … Continue Reading If you enjoy what you read here every day…
Isis in Old Age (story)
Originally published at Bold+Italic It was one of those across the room things, even though the women were both old … Continue Reading Isis in Old Age (story)
Dostoevsky’s Nightmare
Raskolnikov’s horrible dream, from early on in Crime & Punishment: Raskolnikov had a fearful dream. He dreamt he was back … Continue Reading Dostoevsky’s Nightmare
“Isis in Old Age” – new story up at Bold+Italic
Many thanks to the editors of Bold+Italic, who published my story “Isis in Old Age” earlier this year, and just … Continue Reading “Isis in Old Age” – new story up at Bold+Italic
Translating Kafka’s Life: An Interview with Shelley Frisch
I have posted about my love for Franz Kafka’s work many times in these pages. Today I’m lucky enough to … Continue Reading Translating Kafka’s Life: An Interview with Shelley Frisch
How Alice Munro Chose to Write Short Stories
from the introduction to her Selected Stories: I did not “choose” to write short stories. I hoped to write … Continue Reading How Alice Munro Chose to Write Short Stories
The Best of Albert Camus’s Notebooks
A random scattering, some barely aphorisms, from the first two volumes of the notebooks of Albert Camus. They are gold: … Continue Reading The Best of Albert Camus’s Notebooks
New story at Cutthroat: “The Frog”
Many thanks to the editors at Cutthroat (Pamela Uschuk, and fiction editor Bill Luvaas) for publishing my story “The Frog” … Continue Reading New story at Cutthroat: “The Frog”
William Blake Chooses Eternity
A wonderful paragraph from Peter Ackroyd’s biography of William Blake, where he shows how the poet slowly came to accept … Continue Reading William Blake Chooses Eternity
Harold Bloom Discovers That What Writers Work Hardest On Isn’t What Readers Remember Most
from Bloom’s 1991 interview with The Paris Review: You know, I’ve learned something over the years, picking up copies of … Continue Reading Harold Bloom Discovers That What Writers Work Hardest On Isn’t What Readers Remember Most
Speaking of Short Stories
Back when I used to do a lot of readings, I would start out by sharing somebody else’s work, and … Continue Reading Speaking of Short Stories
There are a lot of lonely people out there, & they deserve a book of stories
There are a lot of lonely people out there, and with my collection of stories The Lonely Young & the … Continue Reading There are a lot of lonely people out there, & they deserve a book of stories
The Poet Speaks #14: Kafka Tries Again & Again
Here are some bits from Kafka’s Diaries, trying & failing to harmonize his writing life with his family and work … Continue Reading The Poet Speaks #14: Kafka Tries Again & Again
The Poet Speaks #13: Richard Wilbur & John Berryman: “The artist is extremely lucky who is presented with the worst possible ordeal which will not actually kill him”
Even though I’ve never read a word of his poetry, John Berryman has been haunting me lately. Two friends who … Continue Reading The Poet Speaks #13: Richard Wilbur & John Berryman: “The artist is extremely lucky who is presented with the worst possible ordeal which will not actually kill him”
The Poet Speaks #12: Ralph Ellison, Anthony Burgess, James Dickey
If the Negro, or any other writer, is going to do what is expected of him, he’s lost the battle … Continue Reading The Poet Speaks #12: Ralph Ellison, Anthony Burgess, James Dickey
