from hate to indifference
take a quantity of critics insults
chop off qualifying & balancing
clausesoften designed to strengthen insults (by pretending objec-
tivity) not mitigate them
cut out somewhat, almost, rather, seems,
sometimes, at times, a certain amount, in other phases, in some
respects the recognitions,
then, is appalling, awkward, arrogant, no
work of art
it is baffling, and a Bore confused & confusing.
cruel, claustrophobic, a literary curiosity
dont buy itits debasing,
demoralizing, diabolical, has no decency
or if this excites your
lower nature, its also dull difficult dreary& disgusting
evil, but
exasperating
a fatuous foul-mouthed formless failure! inchoate,
incoherent, shows immaturity & lacks imagination
& kindness.
murky muddy monstrous nihilistic
an overwritten oddity, obscene
& obscure
profane & pretentious repulsive or repelling
scur-
rilous-scatological, sneering-snarling-sprawling-squalling, says north of
the ny world telegram & sun
and adds, has no trace of sincerity.
an uncontrolled exhibition
no vision wearisome
1
as for gaddis personally, he "lacks judgment" & his self-love is "embar-
rassingly apparent"
hes a cynic with a narrow jaundiced view and a
depraved mind2
just some words of welcome to americas best writer
where does all
this hate come from
everybody knows, for centuries its been said a
critics an envious man
theyre always supposed to have got over it
a generation ago but they never do
critics only concern with im-
mortality, if he was immortal he too could write a great novel someday.
if a million critics were strumming on a million typewriters...
how is hate hidden
anger shades down to contempt, contempt to
condescension & innuendo, then "balanced" with a little sting left, then
complete indifference
which toward greatness, is not unlike hate
1
key numbers 40-4-53&63-4 8-56 82-55 84-4-54&63 35-35-53-53 75-55-9-
35&53 53-53&63&66 46-53-63-3&28&30&62 46-62-3-4 53 85-8&50-55&63
46 6&53-36-35-50&55&63 53-9&21&38&74 53-84 all 53 53 63 4 35
see
bibliography for reviews #s refer to
(Back)
2
key #s 35-53 17&18&35&69-63-53
(Back)