1980.
Presents (limited edition) and (limited edition) and The Emerald The Emerald (limited edition) are published. (limited edition) are published.
1981.
Sixty Stories is published. Becomes Cullen Distinguished Professor of English, University of Houston; begins living half the year in Houston, half the year in New York. is published. Becomes Cullen Distinguished Professor of English, University of Houston; begins living half the year in Houston, half the year in New York.
1982.
Daughter Katharine born in New York.
1983.
Overnight to Many Distant Cities is published. is published.
1986.
Paradise is published. is published.
1987.
Forty Stories and and Sam"s Bar Sam"s Bar (latter with Seymour Chwast) are published. (latter with Seymour Chwast) are published.
1988.
Receives Rea Award for the Short Story. Diagnosed with throat cancer; undergoes surgery and radiation treatments.
1989.
Receives senior fellowship from the American Academy in Rome; spends the spring in Rome. Dies of throat cancer in Houston on July 23.
1990.
The King is published posthumously. is published posthumously.
1992.
The Teachings of Don B.: Satires, Parodies, Fables, Ill.u.s.trated Stories, and Plays, edited by Kim Herzinger, is published. 1997 edited by Kim Herzinger, is published. 1997 Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews, Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews, edited by Kim Herzinger, is published. edited by Kim Herzinger, is published.
2007.
Flying to America: 45 More Stories, edited by Kim Herzinger, is published. edited by Kim Herzinger, is published.
NOTES.
Introduction: The Lost Teacher
page 3 "At this time of life"; "From the outset": "At this time of life"; "From the outset": John Ashbery, John Ashbery, Three Poems, Three Poems, in in Selected Poems Selected Poems (New York: Penguin, 1986), 123, 125. (New York: Penguin, 1986), 123, 125.
page 3 "managed to place himself in the center of modern consciousness": "managed to place himself in the center of modern consciousness": William Ga.s.s, William Ga.s.s, Fiction and the Figures of Life Fiction and the Figures of Life (New York: Vintage, 1972), 100. (New York: Vintage, 1972), 100.
page 4 "unfortunate discontinuance": "unfortunate discontinuance": Amazon.com. Amazon.com.
page 4 "Oh, I think they want me to go away": "Oh, I think they want me to go away": "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in "Interview with Charles Ruas and Judith Sherman, 1975," in Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews, Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews, ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 236. ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 236.
page 4 "Neglect is useful": "Neglect is useful": Donald Barthelme, "Culture, Etc.," in ibid., 135. Donald Barthelme, "Culture, Etc.," in ibid., 135.
page 5 "political and social contamination": "political and social contamination": Donald Barthelme, "Not-Knowing," in ibid., 1415. Donald Barthelme, "Not-Knowing," in ibid., 1415.
page 5 the relationship of his fiction "to political writing": the relationship of his fiction "to political writing": Lois Zamora, "The Long Sonata of the Dead," Lois Zamora, "The Long Sonata of the Dead," Gulf Coast Gulf Coast 4, no. 1 (1991): 183. 4, no. 1 (1991): 183.
page 5 "lowered expectations in terms of life": "lowered expectations in terms of life": "Interview with Bobbie Roe, 1988," in "Interview with Bobbie Roe, 1988," in Not-Knowing, Not-Knowing, ed. Herzinger, 319. ed. Herzinger, 319.
page 5 Baudelaire"s "pitiful" acrobats: Baudelaire"s "pitiful" acrobats: Charles Baudelaire, Charles Baudelaire, The Parisian Prowler, The Parisian Prowler, trans. Edward K. Kaplan (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1989), 29. trans. Edward K. Kaplan (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1989), 29.
page 6 "Art is not difficult because it wishes to be difficult": "Art is not difficult because it wishes to be difficult": Barthelme, "Not-Knowing," in Barthelme, "Not-Knowing," in Not-Knowing, Not-Knowing, ed. Herzinger, 15. ed. Herzinger, 15.
page 6 "The point of my career": "The point of my career": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Forty Stories Forty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1987), 256. (New York: Putnam, 1987), 256.
page 7 The "irruption of accident": The "irruption of accident": Donald Barthelme, "Nudes: An Introduction to Donald Barthelme, "Nudes: An Introduction to Exquisite Creatures Exquisite Creatures," in Not-Knowing, Not-Knowing, ed. Herzinger, 182. ed. Herzinger, 182.
page 7 "What is magical [about art]": "What is magical [about art]": Barthelme, "Not-Knowing," in Barthelme, "Not-Knowing," in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing, ed. Herzinger, 20.
page 7 "It [is not] easy to conjure up a man": "It [is not] easy to conjure up a man": Phillip Lopate, Phillip Lopate, Getting Personal Getting Personal (New York: Basic Books, 2003), 357. (New York: Basic Books, 2003), 357.
page 7 "There"s not a strong autobiographical strain": "There"s not a strong autobiographical strain": J. D. O"Hara "Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI," J. D. O"Hara "Donald Barthelme: The Art of Fiction LXVI," Paris Review Paris Review 80 (1981): 274. 80 (1981): 274.
pages 78 "I will never write an autobiography"; would not "sustain a person"s attention"; "biography is always interesting"; his work had "not perhaps [been] adequately" commented upon: "I will never write an autobiography"; would not "sustain a person"s attention"; "biography is always interesting"; his work had "not perhaps [been] adequately" commented upon: Donald Barthelme and J. D. O" Hara, "Rough Draft #1" of the Donald Barthelme and J. D. O" Hara, "Rough Draft #1" of the Paris Review Paris Review interview, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. interview, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries.
page 8 "Time works on fiction as it does on us": The Writer in Society: Donald Barthelme "Time works on fiction as it does on us": The Writer in Society: Donald Barthelme (Houston: KUHT-TV, 1984). This recording is of an interview with George Plimpton. (Houston: KUHT-TV, 1984). This recording is of an interview with George Plimpton.
page 8 "I remember Donald well": "I remember Donald well": Roger Angell, in conversation with the author, May 27, 2004. Roger Angell, in conversation with the author, May 27, 2004.
page 8 "I don"t mind trying"; "When I reflect how many cells": "I don"t mind trying"; "When I reflect how many cells": Kirkpatrick Sale, in E-mails to the author, May 20 and 25, 2004. Kirkpatrick Sale, in E-mails to the author, May 20 and 25, 2004.
1. Tools page 11 "I Bought a Little City": "I Bought a Little City": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1981), 296. (New York: Putnam, 1981), 296.
page 12 "wasn"t going to be able to just stand there": "wasn"t going to be able to just stand there": Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme, Frederick Barthelme and Steven Barthelme, Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss Double Down: Reflections on Gambling and Loss (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999), 133. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999), 133.
page 12 "world was a place that needed fixing": "world was a place that needed fixing": ibid., 192. ibid., 192.
page 12 "for some indiscretion in the school newspaper": "for some indiscretion in the school newspaper": ibid., 16. ibid., 16.
page 12 "tall, dark, and handsome one": "tall, dark, and handsome one": Helen Moore Barthelme, Helen Moore Barthelme, Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound Donald Barthelme: The Genesis of a Cool Sound (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 7. (College Station: Texas A & M University Press, 2001), 7.
page 12 "He was a fortunate man": "He was a fortunate man": Barthelme and Barthelme, Barthelme and Barthelme, Double Down, Double Down, 16. 16.
pages 1213 "What else happened in 1931?": "What else happened in 1931?": Donald Barthelme, draft of "Kierkegaard Unfair to Schlegel," Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. Donald Barthelme, draft of "Kierkegaard Unfair to Schlegel," Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries.
page 13 "beloved mother": "beloved mother": Barthelme and Barthelme, Barthelme and Barthelme, Double Down, Double Down, 35. 35.
page 13 Philadelphia Savings Fund Society building: Philadelphia Savings Fund Society building: See See www.publ.gsfa.upenn.edu.
page 13 "Where did you get this idea?"; People "laughed at him": "Where did you get this idea?"; People "laughed at him": Barthelme and Barthelme, Barthelme and Barthelme, Double Down Double Down, 65, 186.
page 13 Paul Philippe Cret: Paul Philippe Cret: For background information on Cret and the Beaux-Arts style, I have drawn upon Lisa and Donald Sclare, For background information on Cret and the Beaux-Arts style, I have drawn upon Lisa and Donald Sclare, Beaux-Arts Estates: A Guide to the Architecture of Long Island Beaux-Arts Estates: A Guide to the Architecture of Long Island (New York: Viking, 1980), and Marcus Whiffen and Frederick Koeper, (New York: Viking, 1980), and Marcus Whiffen and Frederick Koeper, American Architecture, 16071976 American Architecture, 16071976 (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1981). (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1981).
page 14 He could "cut through" the politics: He could "cut through" the politics: Elizabeth Greenwall Grossman, Elizabeth Greenwall Grossman, The Civic Architecture of Paul Cret The Civic Architecture of Paul Cret (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), 10. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996), 10.
page 14 the "excesses" of his profession: the "excesses" of his profession: Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Paradise Paradise (New York: Putnam, 1986), 7980. (New York: Putnam, 1986), 7980.
page 15 "Together let us conceive and create the new building": "Together let us conceive and create the new building": Quoted in Kenneth Frampton, Quoted in Kenneth Frampton, Modern Architecture: A Critical History Modern Architecture: A Critical History (New York: Oxford University Press, 1980), 123. (New York: Oxford University Press, 1980), 123.
page 15 "house machines": "house machines": ibid., 153. ibid., 153.
page 15 "The maximum effect with the minimum expenditure of means": "The maximum effect with the minimum expenditure of means": ibid., 163. Like the Bauhaus members, Le Corbusier and Mies saw themselves as apostles of a better world through art. Le Corbusier"s image of the "City of Tomorrow" included cruciform towers-he called them "Cartesian skysc.r.a.pers"-whose gla.s.s and reinforced concrete would, he said, express thought. Idealism of this magnitude can be ominous, especially when applied to the improvement of others. Early on, modern architecture"s potentially tyrannical aspects were frequently overlooked, but they were apparent. For example, Le Corbusier"s plan for an ideal city in France called for a strict separation of workers and administrators, a blinkered, cla.s.s-mired vision of utopia. The Communist newspaper ibid., 163. Like the Bauhaus members, Le Corbusier and Mies saw themselves as apostles of a better world through art. Le Corbusier"s image of the "City of Tomorrow" included cruciform towers-he called them "Cartesian skysc.r.a.pers"-whose gla.s.s and reinforced concrete would, he said, express thought. Idealism of this magnitude can be ominous, especially when applied to the improvement of others. Early on, modern architecture"s potentially tyrannical aspects were frequently overlooked, but they were apparent. For example, Le Corbusier"s plan for an ideal city in France called for a strict separation of workers and administrators, a blinkered, cla.s.s-mired vision of utopia. The Communist newspaper L"Humanite L"Humanite called the project "reactionary" and asked, "Which better world do we want? Who decides?" called the project "reactionary" and asked, "Which better world do we want? Who decides?"
Mies often seemed to want to leave the world altogether to attend to the soul. What is the task of architecture? he asked again and again. What is the truth? Thomas Aquinas gave him one answer he liked: "Truth is the significance of fact." From this statement, Mies said, the idea of a "clear construction came to me"-that is, repeating fundamental building elements from the smallest to the grandest details, thus stressing the essential facts. Structure, he insisted, is a metaphysical notion, and architecture the "will of the age expressed in spatial terms." In 1921, when he proposed an all-gla.s.s office complex for the Friedrichstra.s.se in Berlin, he noted that light and shadow did not guide his design; instead, the important thing to him was the play of reflections on the gla.s.s. This suggests that his eye was not on human needs, or the will of the age, but on the beyond (see ibid., 103, 155, 161).
page 15 the "country of timid people": the "country of timid people": John Burchard and Albert Bush-Brown, John Burchard and Albert Bush-Brown, The Architecture of America: A Social and Cultural History The Architecture of America: A Social and Cultural History (Boston: Little, Brown, 1966), 361. (Boston: Little, Brown, 1966), 361.
page 15 A "tendency toward Oedipal overthrow": A "tendency toward Oedipal overthrow": Herbert Muschamp, "A Building with a Song in Its Heart," Herbert Muschamp, "A Building with a Song in Its Heart," New York Times, New York Times, October 2, 2003. October 2, 2003.
page 15 "Mr. Barthelme, I find that I can make things beautiful": "Mr. Barthelme, I find that I can make things beautiful": Barthelme and Barthelme, Barthelme and Barthelme, Double Down, Double Down, 132. 132.
page 16 U.S. Department of Justice building U.S. Department of Justice building: For details on this building, see the National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary at www.hps.gov/history/NR/travel/wash/text.htm.
page 16 "We had told Mr. Wright"; "little or no closet s.p.a.ce": "We had told Mr. Wright"; "little or no closet s.p.a.ce": Stanley Marcus, Stanley Marcus, Minding the Store Minding the Store (Boston: Little, Brown, 1974), 9195. See also "House for Stanley Marcus, Dallas, Texas," (Boston: Little, Brown, 1974), 9195. See also "House for Stanley Marcus, Dallas, Texas," Architectural Forum, Architectural Forum, December 1939, 461467. December 1939, 461467.
page 16 "I couldn"t understand [Wright"s] plans": "I couldn"t understand [Wright"s] plans": Donald Barthelme, Sr., quoted in Stephen Fox, "Donald Barthelme, 19171996," Donald Barthelme, Sr., quoted in Stephen Fox, "Donald Barthelme, 19171996," Cite Cite 35 (1996): 9. 35 (1996): 9.
page 17 The result was too conventional: The result was too conventional: Marcus, Marcus, Minding the Store Minding the Store.
page 17 the Hall of State: the Hall of State: For details on this building in Dallas"s Fair Park, see For details on this building in Dallas"s Fair Park, see www.dallascityhall.com and and www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/texas/dallas/fairpark/hallofstate.
page 17 "I told [Staub]": "I told [Staub]": Stephen Fox and Janet M. O"Brien, "An Interview with Donald Barthelme," typewritten transcript, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. Stephen Fox and Janet M. O"Brien, "An Interview with Donald Barthelme," typewritten transcript, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries.
page 17 "the qualifications of which": Architectural Forum, "the qualifications of which": Architectural Forum, July 1939, 7. July 1939, 7.
page 18 "wonderful to live in but strange to see on the Texas prairie": "wonderful to live in but strange to see on the Texas prairie": "Interview with Jerome Klinkowitz, 197172," in "Interview with Jerome Klinkowitz, 197172," in Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews, Not-Knowing: The Essays and Interviews, ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 200. ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 200.
page 18 "The furniture...wasn"t like other people"s furniture": "The furniture...wasn"t like other people"s furniture": Steven Barthelme, "It Used to Be Right Here," Steven Barthelme, "It Used to Be Right Here," Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle, Texas Magazine, Houston Chronicle, May 20, 2000, 4. May 20, 2000, 4.