page 361 "non-book": "non-book": Wells's comment cited in unsigned article, "Pangs and Prizes," Wells's comment cited in unsigned article, "Pangs and Prizes," Time Time, April 24, 1972, 88.

page 361 "Writing for children": "Writing for children": Donald Barthelme, "Acceptance Speech: National Book Award for Children's Literature," in Donald Barthelme, "Acceptance Speech: National Book Award for Children's Literature," in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing, ed. Herzinger, 55.

40. Sadness Sadness page 362 " " Sadness Sadness was a different sort of t.i.tle": was a different sort of t.i.tle":"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), 234.

page 363 "The first thing I did was make a mistake": "The first thing I did was make a mistake": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Sadness Sadness (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1972), 143. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1972), 143.

page 363 " "Before Sadness Sadness": Charles Thomas Samuels, "Sadness," Charles Thomas Samuels, "Sadness," New York Times Book Review New York Times Book Review, November 5, 1972, 27.

page 363 "Wonderful elegance! No good at all!": "Wonderful elegance! No good at all!": Barthelme, Barthelme, Sadness Sadness, 62.

page 363 " "witticisms": Sren Kierkegaard, Sren Kierkegaard, Papers and Journals Papers and Journals, trans. Alastair Hannay (New York: Penguin, 1996), 50.

page 364 a "field of stainless steel tulips": a "field of stainless steel tulips": Barthelme, Barthelme, Sadness Sadness, 33.

page 364 "[Y]ou want nothing so much as a deep-going, fundamental involvement": "[Y]ou want nothing so much as a deep-going, fundamental involvement": ibid., 179. ibid., 179.

page 364 "I always say to myself": "I always say to myself": ibid., 30. ibid., 30.

page 364 "Of course we tried hard"; "What made us think": "Of course we tried hard"; "What made us think": ibid., 58, 62. ibid., 58, 62.

page 364 "See, it is possible to live in the world and not change the world": "See, it is possible to live in the world and not change the world": ibid., 116. ibid., 116.

page 364 "a subst.i.tute for the dread of being castrated": "a subst.i.tute for the dread of being castrated": Sigmund Freud, "The Uncanny," in Sigmund Freud, "The Uncanny," in The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud The Standard Edition of the Complete Psychological Works of Sigmund Freud, trans. and ed. James Strachey, vol. 17 (London: Hogarth Press, 1964), 227233.

page 365 "Please consider this an 'eyes only' letter": "Please consider this an 'eyes only' letter": This and subsequent quotes from "The Sandman" are from Barthelme, This and subsequent quotes from "The Sandman" are from Barthelme, Sadness Sadness, 8796.

page 365 "serious toys": "serious toys": John Seelye, "Serious Toys," John Seelye, "Serious Toys," The Sat.u.r.day Review The Sat.u.r.day Review, November 25, 1972, 66.

page 366 "first American writer": "first American writer": Guy Davenport, "Temptations," Guy Davenport, "Temptations," National Review National Review, December 22, 1972, 1413.

page 366 " "stories that belong among the finest examples": Samuels, "Sadness," 31. Samuels, "Sadness," 31.

page 366 "There are always openings, if you can find them": "There are always openings, if you can find them": Barthelme, Barthelme, Sadness Sadness, 183.

41. Marion page 367 "My mother just let me go": "My mother just let me go": This and subsequent Anne Barthelme quotes are from conversations with the author, June 19, 2004, and May 19, 2005. This and subsequent Anne Barthelme quotes are from conversations with the author, June 19, 2004, and May 19, 2005.

page 368 "I lived in Copenhagen once": "I lived in Copenhagen once": This and subsequent quotes regarding Don's time in Boston are from John Domini, in an E-mail to the author, June 11, 2007. This and subsequent quotes regarding Don's time in Boston are from John Domini, in an E-mail to the author, June 11, 2007.

page 369 "very expendable pitcher": "very expendable pitcher": This and subsequent Marion Knox Barthelme quotes are from an E-mail to the author, January 31, 2006. This and subsequent Marion Knox Barthelme quotes are from an E-mail to the author, January 31, 2006.

page 369 "met someone": "met someone": This and subsequent Karen Kennerly quotes are from conversations with the author, May 29, 2004, June 19, 2004, and December 3, 2005. This and subsequent Karen Kennerly quotes are from conversations with the author, May 29, 2004, June 19, 2004, and December 3, 2005.

page 369 "When [she and Donald] first [got] together": "When [she and Donald] first [got] together": This and subsequent Harrison Starr quotes are from a conversation with the author, December 24, 2006. This and subsequent Harrison Starr quotes are from a conversation with the author, December 24, 2006.

page 370 "much warmer and fuller": "much warmer and fuller": Kirk Sale, in an E-mail to the author, May 16, 2004. Kirk Sale, in an E-mail to the author, May 16, 2004.

page 370 "I am happy and know myself to be happy": "I am happy and know myself to be happy": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Here in the Village Here in the Village (Northridge, California and Archives: Lord John Press, 1978), 52. (Northridge, California and Archives: Lord John Press, 1978), 52.

pages 370371 "form a new government" "form a new government" to to "my dear friend Marion Knox": "my dear friend Marion Knox": Donald Barthelme, letter to George Christian, November 22, 1975, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. Donald Barthelme, letter to George Christian, November 22, 1975, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries.

42. Pen and Sword page 372 "seamy things he had done"; "smoking gun": "seamy things he had done"; "smoking gun": Daniel Ellsberg, Daniel Ellsberg, Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers (New York: Viking, 2002), 456457. (New York: Viking, 2002), 456457.

page 372 "Watergate sure did get [Don] revved up": "Watergate sure did get [Don] revved up": This and subsequent Thomas Pynchon quotes are from his introduction to This and subsequent Thomas Pynchon quotes are from his introduction to The Teachings of Don B. The Teachings of Don B., ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Turtle Bay Books, 1992), xvxxii.

page 372 "One can attempt to explain this Administration": "One can attempt to explain this Administration": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Here in the Village Here in the Village (Northridge, California: Lord John Press, 1978), 910. (Northridge, California: Lord John Press, 1978), 910.

page 372 "P-What did I do then?": "P-What did I do then?": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Guilty Pleasures Guilty Pleasures (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1974), 9394. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1974), 9394.

page 373 "hurl great flaming buckets": "hurl great flaming buckets": Barthelme, Barthelme, Here in the Village Here in the Village, 910.

page 373 "I've just put the cat in the refrigerator": "I've just put the cat in the refrigerator": Karen Kennerly, in a conversation with the author, June 19, 2004. Karen Kennerly, in a conversation with the author, June 19, 2004.

page 373 "on the off-chance it was Solzhenitsyn": "on the off-chance it was Solzhenitsyn": Thomas Pynchon, undated note to Donald Barthelme, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. pages 373374 Thomas Pynchon, undated note to Donald Barthelme, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. pages 373374 "What's your time, sugar"; "[I]f there are prisons": "What's your time, sugar"; "[I]f there are prisons": Grace Paley, Grace Paley, Just As I Thought Just As I Thought (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998), 2430. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998), 2430.

page 374 "It's going to be pretty" "It's going to be pretty" to to "She wasn't a girl, really": "She wasn't a girl, really": Barthelme, Barthelme, Here in the Village Here in the Village,1115.

page 375 "Don was a very active, astute, literary politician"; "Don was a very active, astute, literary politician"; " "Once he enlisted me": Renata Adler, Renata Adler, Gone: The Last Days of The New Yorker Gone: The Last Days of The New Yorker (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999), 80. (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999), 80.

page 375 "My dearest dream": A Companion to Walt Whitman "My dearest dream": A Companion to Walt Whitman. Donald D. k.u.mmings, ed. (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell, 2006). page 376 "We writers...are trustees": "We writers...are trustees": This and subsequent quotes detailing the history of PEN are from "Historical Sketch," cited on the "PEN American Center Archives" page at This and subsequent quotes detailing the history of PEN are from "Historical Sketch," cited on the "PEN American Center Archives" page at www.libweb.princeton.edu/libraries/firestone/rbsc/aids/pen.html.

page 376 "Don developed considerable influence in PEN": "Don developed considerable influence in PEN": Kirk Sale, in an E-mail to the author, May 16, 2004. Kirk Sale, in an E-mail to the author, May 16, 2004.

page 376 "At the PEN Board meetings": "At the PEN Board meetings": Kirk Sale, "A Tribute to Donald Barthelme," Kirk Sale, "A Tribute to Donald Barthelme," Poets and Writers Poets and Writers, March/April 1990, 910.

page 377 "We, his colleagues in the West": "We, his colleagues in the West": Donald Barthelme, telegram to Leonid Brezhnev, cited in Donald Barthelme, telegram to Leonid Brezhnev, cited in The New York Times The New York Times, February 13, 1974.

page 377 "imprisoned writers": "imprisoned writers": Donald Barthelme, letter to Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski, cited in the Donald Barthelme, letter to Gen. Wojciech Jaruzelski, cited in the New York Times New York Times, February 9, 1982.

page 377 "Democracy is the best idea" "Democracy is the best idea" to " to "I haven't seen a government I liked" : : Heidi Ziegler, Heidi Ziegler, The Radical Imagination and the Liberal Tradition: Interviews with English and American Novelists The Radical Imagination and the Liberal Tradition: Interviews with English and American Novelists (London: Junction Books, 1982), 48, 44. (London: Junction Books, 1982), 48, 44.

43. Guilty Pleasures page 378 "Living unmarried" "Living unmarried" and all subsequent quotes from Marion Barthelme are from an E-mail to the author on June 6, 2008. and all subsequent quotes from Marion Barthelme are from an E-mail to the author on June 6, 2008.

page 378 "spats": "spats": Kirk Sale, in an E-mail to the author, May 16, 2004. Kirk Sale, in an E-mail to the author, May 16, 2004.

page 378 "[He] is now divorced": "[He] is now divorced": Max Frisch, Max Frisch, Montauk Montauk (New York: Harvest/HBJ, 1976), 138139. (New York: Harvest/HBJ, 1976), 138139.

page 380 "Don asked me if I was having an affair": "Don asked me if I was having an affair": Kirk Sale, in an E-mail to the author, May 16, 2004. Kirk Sale, in an E-mail to the author, May 16, 2004.

page 380 "The fall 1973 number of the Carolina Quarterly": "The fall 1973 number of the Carolina Quarterly": Donald Barthelme, letter in the Donald Barthelme, letter in the New York Times Book Review New York Times Book Review, December 23, 1973, 17.

page 381 "Admittedly, editing a journal"; "monster of malice"; "damage": "Admittedly, editing a journal"; "monster of malice"; "damage": Edward Krickel, " 'O wha is this has done this deid, this ill deid done to me?: A Correction and Commentary" in Edward Krickel, " 'O wha is this has done this deid, this ill deid done to me?: A Correction and Commentary" in The Georgia Review The Georgia Review 28, no. 1 (1974): 5. 28, no. 1 (1974): 5.

page 381 " " Esquire Esquire called up": called up": "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), 240.

page 382 "I said "I said, 'Snow White'?": This and subsequent Walter Abish quotes are from a conversation with the author, February 16, 2005. This and subsequent Walter Abish quotes are from a conversation with the author, February 16, 2005.

page 383 "I was taken by the idea of an impersonal fiction": "I was taken by the idea of an impersonal fiction": Frederick Tuten, "Twenty-Five Years After: The Adventures of Mao on the Long March," Frederick Tuten, "Twenty-Five Years After: The Adventures of Mao on the Long March," Archipelago Archipelago 1, no. 1 (1997); posted at 1, no. 1 (1997); posted at www.archipelago.org/vol1-1/tuten.htm.

page 383 "How can I be like you?": "How can I be like you?": Peter J. Rondinone, cited at Peter J. Rondinone, cited at www1.cuny.edu.portal_ur/news/cuny_matters/july_2003/festival.html.

page 383 He "had no set reading list": He "had no set reading list": Brian Kitely, "Some Questions about Donald Barthelme," posted at Brian Kitely, "Some Questions about Donald Barthelme," posted at www.du.edu/~bkitely/barthelme.htm.

page 383 "One day in 1973 he crossed the street to talk to me": "One day in 1973 he crossed the street to talk to me": Grace Paley, Grace Paley, Just As I Thought Just As I Thought (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998), 235236. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998), 235236.

page 383 "down in Baltimore": "down in Baltimore": Marc Chenetier et al., "Some Bridge of Meaning: A Conversational Interview with Joseph McElroy," Marc Chenetier et al., "Some Bridge of Meaning: A Conversational Interview with Joseph McElroy," Revues d'etudes Anglophones Revues d'etudes Anglophones (Universite d'Orleans), Autumn 2001, 13. (Universite d'Orleans), Autumn 2001, 13.

page 384 Corey, who spouted nonsense for several minutes: Corey, who spouted nonsense for several minutes: See Irwin Corey's acceptance speech, posted at See Irwin Corey's acceptance speech, posted at www.ottosell.de/pynchon/corey.htm.

page 384 Benjamin DeMott...said the winning entry: Benjamin DeMott...said the winning entry: See Benjamin DeMott, "Anatomy of a National Book Award," See Benjamin DeMott, "Anatomy of a National Book Award," The Atlantic Monthly The Atlantic Monthly, June 1974, 98.

page 384 "lured": "lured": This and subsequent quotes from the This and subsequent quotes from the New York Times New York Times are from Eric Pace, "Simon and Schuster Elated Over an Editorial Coup," are from Eric Pace, "Simon and Schuster Elated Over an Editorial Coup," New York Times New York Times, December 24, 1973.

page 385 "authors are large striped or spotted animals": "authors are large striped or spotted animals": Donald Barthelme, letter to the Donald Barthelme, letter to the New York Times New York Times, September 30, 1974.

page 385 "exemplary fashion": "exemplary fashion": Donald Barthelme, letter to Roger Straus, January 9, 1974, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. Donald Barthelme, letter to Roger Straus, January 9, 1974, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries.

page 385 "damaging" allegations: "damaging" allegations: Roger Straus, letter to Donald Barthelme, January 11, 1974, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. Roger Straus, letter to Donald Barthelme, January 11, 1974, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries.

page 385 "What remains": "What remains": Donald Barthelme, letter to Roger Straus, January 16, 1974, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. Donald Barthelme, letter to Roger Straus, January 16, 1974, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries.

page 386 the "more I've thought about our decision": the "more I've thought about our decision": Roger Straus, letter to Donald Barthelme, January 18, 1974, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. Roger Straus, letter to Donald Barthelme, January 18, 1974, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries.

page 386 "pretty low": "pretty low": Peter S. Prescott, "The Repairman," Peter S. Prescott, "The Repairman," Newsweek Newsweek, November 25, 1974, 118.

page 386 "draping his motley": "draping his motley": Unsigned article, "Notable," Unsigned article, "Notable," Time Time, November 11, 1974, 112.

page 386 " 'The looking at a woman sometimes makes for l.u.s.t' ": " 'The looking at a woman sometimes makes for l.u.s.t' ": Donald Barthelme, catalog introduction for an exhibition at the Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery, reprinted in Donald Barthelme, catalog introduction for an exhibition at the Cordier & Ekstrom Gallery, reprinted in Here in the Village Here in the Village (Northridge, California: Lord John Press, 1978), 42. (Northridge, California: Lord John Press, 1978), 42.

page 386 "on delivery of an acceptable ma.n.u.script": "on delivery of an acceptable ma.n.u.script": In-house memo from Roger Straus, July 24, 1975, Farrar, Straus and Giroux records, Ma.n.u.scripts and Archives Division, New York Public Library. In-house memo from Roger Straus, July 24, 1975, Farrar, Straus and Giroux records, Ma.n.u.scripts and Archives Division, New York Public Library.

44. Peanut b.u.t.ter page 387 "our representative American minimalist work": "our representative American minimalist work": This and subsequent Karl quotes are from Frederick Karl, This and subsequent Karl quotes are from Frederick Karl, American Fictions: 19401980 American Fictions: 19401980 (New York: Harper Colophon, 1981), 385. (New York: Harper Colophon, 1981), 385.

page 387 the story is the journey of the hero: the story is the journey of the hero: See, for example, Joseph Campbell, See, for example, Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1972), or Otto Rank et al., (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1972), or Otto Rank et al., In the Quest of the Hero In the Quest of the Hero (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1990). page 387 (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1990). page 387 "process of accretion": "process of accretion": "Interview with Larry McCaffery: 1980," in "Interview with Larry McCaffery: 1980," in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing, ed. Kim Herzinger (New York: Random House, 1997), 262.

page 388 "Hoping this will reach you at a favorable moment": "Hoping this will reach you at a favorable moment": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, The Dead Father The Dead Father (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1975), 24. (New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1975), 24.

page 388 "parley": "parley": ibid., 30. ibid., 30.

page 388 "telling of b.a.l.l.s": "telling of b.a.l.l.s": Gertrude Stein, "Ladies' Voices," in Gertrude Stein, "Ladies' Voices," in A Stein Reader A Stein Reader, ed. Ulla E. Dydo (Evanston, Illinois: Northwestern University Press, 1993), 307.

page 388 "was beginning a novel about Gertrude Stein": "was beginning a novel about Gertrude Stein": Jerome Charyn, in an E-mail to the author, June 14, 2004. Jerome Charyn, in an E-mail to the author, June 14, 2004.

page 388 "change" the world and give it "needed direction"; "favorable" historical "moment": "change" the world and give it "needed direction"; "favorable" historical "moment": Barthelme, Barthelme, The Dead Father The Dead Father, 2324.

page 388 "I can talk to you": "I can talk to you": ibid., 2930. ibid., 2930.

page 388 "Daddy, Daddy, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I'm through!": "Daddy, Daddy, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d, I'm through!": Sylvia Plath, Sylvia Plath, Ariel Ariel (New York: Harper & Row, 1966), 51. (New York: Harper & Row, 1966), 51.

page 389 "words in the world that [are] not the words [we] always hear" "words in the world that [are] not the words [we] always hear": Donald Barthelme, Snow White Snow White (New York: Atheneum, 1967), 6. (New York: Atheneum, 1967), 6.

page 389 "[M]y writing was all about you": "[M]y writing was all about you": Franz Kafka, "Letter to His Father," in Franz Kafka, "Letter to His Father," in Dearest Father: Stories and Other Writings Dearest Father: Stories and Other Writings, trans. and ed. Ernst Kaiser and Eithne Wilkins (New York: Schocken Books, 1954), 138196.

page 389 "If one tries to think at one and the same time": "If one tries to think at one and the same time": Jane Gallop quoted in Kelly Anspaugh, "Who Killed James Joyce?" posted at Jane Gallop quoted in Kelly Anspaugh, "Who Killed James Joyce?" posted at www.centerforbookculture.org/casebooks/case book_swim/anspaugh.html.

pages 389390 Michel Foucault; Jacques Derrida: Michel Foucault; Jacques Derrida: See Peter Schwenger, "Barthelme, Freud, and the Killing of Kafka's Father," in See Peter Schwenger, "Barthelme, Freud, and the Killing of Kafka's Father," in Fictions of Masculinity: Crossing Cultures, Crossing s.e.xualities Fictions of Masculinity: Crossing Cultures, Crossing s.e.xualities, ed. Peter Murphy (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1994), 5773.

page 390 "poker chip": "poker chip": Barthelme, Barthelme, The Dead Father The Dead Father, 36.

page 390 " "It is through the name of the father name of the father": Jacques Lacan quoted in Anspaugh, "Who Killed James Joyce?" Jacques Lacan quoted in Anspaugh, "Who Killed James Joyce?"

page 390 "What is your totem?"; eating the Dead Father: "What is your totem?"; eating the Dead Father: Barthelme, Barthelme, The Dead Father The Dead Father,150; 74.

page 390 "Patricide is a bad idea": "Patricide is a bad idea": ibid., 145. ibid., 145.

page 391 "a hundred dollars" for a "feeling": "a hundred dollars" for a "feeling": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Come Back, Dr. Caligari Come Back, Dr. Caligari (Boston: Little, Brown, 1964), 63. (Boston: Little, Brown, 1964), 63.

page 391 the "kind of life" she has "imagined": the "kind of life" she has "imagined": Barthelme, Barthelme, The Dead Father The Dead Father, 169.

page 391 "life itself in contempt": "life itself in contempt": This and subsequent Kramer quotes are from Hilton Kramer, "Barthelme's Comedy of Patricide," This and subsequent Kramer quotes are from Hilton Kramer, "Barthelme's Comedy of Patricide," Commentary Commentary 62 (1976): 56. 62 (1976): 56.

page 392 "state of crisis": "state of crisis": This and subsequent quotes from the conference at the Library of Congress are from This and subsequent quotes from the conference at the Library of Congress are from The Publication of Poetry and Fiction: A Conference (October 20 and 21, 1975) The Publication of Poetry and Fiction: A Conference (October 20 and 21, 1975) (Washington, D. C.: Library of Congress, 1977). (Washington, D. C.: Library of Congress, 1977).

page 393 "not very happy"; "I keep remembering what Faulkner said": "not very happy"; "I keep remembering what Faulkner said": Walker Percy, letter to Donald Barthelme, March 14, 1975, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. Walker Percy, letter to Donald Barthelme, March 14, 1975, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries.

page 393 "Well, it's tough luck for you": "Well, it's tough luck for you": This and subsequent quotes from the symposium on fiction are from "A Symposium on Fiction," in This and subsequent quotes from the symposium on fiction are from "A Symposium on Fiction," in Not-Knowing Not-Knowing, ed. Herzinger, 5882.

page 394 "Thanks for getting me to Va.": "Thanks for getting me to Va.": Walker Percy, letter to Donald Barthelme, November 5, 1975, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries. Walker Percy, letter to Donald Barthelme, November 5, 1975, Special Collections and Archives, University of Houston Libraries.

page 394 "Over the past 10 years": "Over the past 10 years": Jerome Klinkowitz, "The Dead Father," Jerome Klinkowitz, "The Dead Father," The New Republic The New Republic, November 29, 1975, 3536.

page 394 "flick...scenes onto the page": "flick...scenes onto the page": Unsigned book review, Unsigned book review, The New Yorker The New Yorker, November 24, 1975, 194.

page 394 "always witty, and occasionally beautiful": "always witty, and occasionally beautiful": Peter S. Prescott, "Pater Noster," Peter S. Prescott, "Pater Noster," Newsweek Newsweek, November 3, 1975, 90.

page 394 "he provides a way of listening": "he provides a way of listening": Richard Todd, "Daddy, you're perfectly swell!" Richard Todd, "Daddy, you're perfectly swell!" The Atlantic Monthly The Atlantic Monthly (December 1975): 112. (December 1975): 112.

page 394 "The Dead Father "The Dead Father is the author's most sustained, ambitious and successful work is the author's most sustained, ambitious and successful work" : New York Times Book Review : New York Times Book Review, December 28, 1975, 1.

pages 394395 "[Y]ou d.a.m.ned critics" "[Y]ou d.a.m.ned critics" to to "and let us have a drink": "and let us have a drink": Donald Barthelme, letter to Jerome Klinkowitz, May 5, 1975, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware. Donald Barthelme, letter to Jerome Klinkowitz, May 5, 1975, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.

page 395 "Don's neighborhood": "Don's neighborhood": This and subsequent Klinkowitz quotes are from Jerome Klinkowitz, This and subsequent Klinkowitz quotes are from Jerome Klinkowitz, Keeping Literary Company: Working with Writers Since the Sixties Keeping Literary Company: Working with Writers Since the Sixties (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1998), 103133. (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1998), 103133.

page 397 "I married. Oh, did I marry": "I married. Oh, did I marry": Barthelme, Barthelme, The Dead Father The Dead Father, 57.

45. Downtown page 398 America's longest, and most ignominious, war: America's longest, and most ignominious, war: For an incisive short account of the Vietnam War, see George C. Herring, For an incisive short account of the Vietnam War, see George C. Herring, America's Longest War: The United States and Vietnam, 19501975 America's Longest War: The United States and Vietnam, 19501975 (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1986). page 398 (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1986). page 398 "The greatest dissonance of my adult lifetime was the Vietnam war": "The greatest dissonance of my adult lifetime was the Vietnam war": Heidi Ziegler, "Donald Barthelme," in Heidi Ziegler, "Donald Barthelme," in The Radical Imagination and the Liberal Tradition: Interviews with American and English Novelists The Radical Imagination and the Liberal Tradition: Interviews with American and English Novelists, ed. Heidi Ziegler and Christopher Bigley (London: Junction Books, 1982), 44.

page 398 "Fragments are the only forms I trust": "Fragments are the only forms I trust": Donald Barthelme, Donald Barthelme, Sixty Stories Sixty Stories (New York: Putnam, 1981), 98. (New York: Putnam, 1981), 98.