Writers at Work 08: The Paris Review Interviews

As has regularly been the case with this most understanding series of interviews the eighth series provides a number of rich and rewarding inquiries into the craft and practice of writing. I think that the essay which was most interesting for me was that with Edel, who explains his method of research in writing his epic James biography. But there are also insightful interviews with other major figures including Joyce Carol Oates, Cynthia Ozick, John Hersey, and Yosef Brodsky. I wonder if John Irving and James MacLaughlin really belongs in the same category with these other writers but they nonetheless too have something of interest to say. Another valuable contribution to an outstanding series.