TALKING YOKNAPATAWPHA
No white American author has ever written so well about the racial complexities of his country, but no author poses more challenges to unsuspecting readers. Here’s a guide.
Michael Gorra’s The Saddest Words: William Faulkner’s Civil War was published in August. He is the editor of the Norton Critical Editions of As I Lay Dying and The Sound and the Fury and author of Portrait of a Novel: Henry James and the Making of an American Masterpiece, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Biography. He teaches at Smith College.
The Third Year, 1863
This summer marks the 150th anniversary of Gettysburg and other major battles. Michael Gorra on two books that bring the Civil War to life.
'Great Expectations'
One of the world’s greatest writers on childhood was not a great father to his own 10 children, writes Michael Gorra.
The Ambassador
Is Henry James's 'The Portrait of a Lady' too European, or is it the great American novel? Michael Gorra weighs in.
Richard Ford returns with one of his most powerful novels yet, “Canada.” Michael Gorra hails this tale of border violence and a young boy’s escape.