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Conversations with James Salter
James Salter (1925-2015) has been known throughout his career as a writer's writer, acclaimed by such literary greats as Susan Sontag, Richard Ford, John Banville, and Peter Matthiessen for his lyrical prose, his insightful and daring explorations of sex, and his examinations of the inner lives of women and men.
Conversations with James Salter collects interviews published from 1972 to 2014 with the award-winning author of The Hunters, A Sport and a Pastime, Light Years , and All That Is . Gathered here are his earliest interviews following acclaimed but moderately selling novels, conversations covering his work as a screenwriter and award-winning director, and interviews charting his explosive popularity after publishing All That Is , his first novel after a gap of thirty-four years. These conversations chart Salter's progression as a writer, his love affair with France, his military past as a fighter pilot, and his lyrical explorations of gender relations.
The collection contains interviews from Sweden, France, and Argentina appearing for the first time in English. Included as well are published conversations from the United States, Canada, and Australia, some of which are significantly extended versions, giving this collection an international scope of Salter's wide-ranging career and his place in world literature.
Conversations with James Salter collects interviews published from 1972 to 2014 with the award-winning author of The Hunters, A Sport and a Pastime, Light Years , and All That Is . Gathered here are his earliest interviews following acclaimed but moderately selling novels, conversations covering his work as a screenwriter and award-winning director, and interviews charting his explosive popularity after publishing All That Is , his first novel after a gap of thirty-four years. These conversations chart Salter's progression as a writer, his love affair with France, his military past as a fighter pilot, and his lyrical explorations of gender relations.
The collection contains interviews from Sweden, France, and Argentina appearing for the first time in English. Included as well are published conversations from the United States, Canada, and Australia, some of which are significantly extended versions, giving this collection an international scope of Salter's wide-ranging career and his place in world literature.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 31, 2022
“You imagine there are some superior writers who are simply writing and it is coming out of them like a spring. And you’re not writing that way, you’re writing only confronted with difficulties, continually. The image of that writer who is writing effortlessly is always threatening you. You want to write that way but you simply can’t do it.”
“Every god writer haunts you. You’re trying to get them out of your consciousness completely when you write. But it’s hard to destroy them. They creep back on you. Just looking at the bookshelves may cause you problems. A lot of writing is written just washing dishes or whatever you are doing because you are thinking about things.”
-page 215
James Salter’s writing is a cold gust of wind on a November afternoon with lingering pale sunlight. An immaculately cut suit, a glass of fine red wine, and an unexpected phone call from the one that got away. He is Europe with a dash of America. Timid, reserved. Not a word excess but yet the impact of his work subdues you with its beauty. You’re at his mercy with just a few pages. There are those who do it better but he is the epitome of style for me.
Conversations with James Salter is a collection of interviews that give insight into his writing process and work. Or do they? he doesn’t reveal anything except that he likes to “edit a lot”. But still, it’s a goldmine to aspiring writers, admirers of his talent, or just those who want to get into the head of a man who decided to leave a promising military career as a pilot, to become a writer. And boy did he succeed.
“Every god writer haunts you. You’re trying to get them out of your consciousness completely when you write. But it’s hard to destroy them. They creep back on you. Just looking at the bookshelves may cause you problems. A lot of writing is written just washing dishes or whatever you are doing because you are thinking about things.”
-page 215
James Salter’s writing is a cold gust of wind on a November afternoon with lingering pale sunlight. An immaculately cut suit, a glass of fine red wine, and an unexpected phone call from the one that got away. He is Europe with a dash of America. Timid, reserved. Not a word excess but yet the impact of his work subdues you with its beauty. You’re at his mercy with just a few pages. There are those who do it better but he is the epitome of style for me.
Conversations with James Salter is a collection of interviews that give insight into his writing process and work. Or do they? he doesn’t reveal anything except that he likes to “edit a lot”. But still, it’s a goldmine to aspiring writers, admirers of his talent, or just those who want to get into the head of a man who decided to leave a promising military career as a pilot, to become a writer. And boy did he succeed.
March 15, 2024
For Serious Readers of James Salter
Fascinating interviews with James Salter, author of Light Years and many other novels and short stories. Opens a gate into Salter’s thought and illuminates his writing. What a fascinating person he was, so brilliant and astonishingly well read! Every interview is conducted by a literary expert who has the ability to question with deep knowledge of Salter’s work. I’m so happy I read this book! As a literary fanatic myself I learned so much and enjoyed every minute of reading.
Fascinating interviews with James Salter, author of Light Years and many other novels and short stories. Opens a gate into Salter’s thought and illuminates his writing. What a fascinating person he was, so brilliant and astonishingly well read! Every interview is conducted by a literary expert who has the ability to question with deep knowledge of Salter’s work. I’m so happy I read this book! As a literary fanatic myself I learned so much and enjoyed every minute of reading.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews