My favorite French prof, Doug Collins (he wrote SARTRE AS BIOGRAPHER, and was a greater intellectual and Francophile than we undergrads deserved), made sure our study-abroad group spent a day at Le Musée de Camondo, and he pointed me toward Pierre Assouline's biography LE DERNIER DES CAMONDO. Thanks to that experience and guidance, I am fascinated by this kind of connoisseurship and cannot wait to read Mr. McAuley's book. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, and for the engaged/engaging interview!
Wonderful interview, Ben! We'll find James' book at our neighborhood shop. Meanwhile, I've just finished reading a lashing critique of French politics, history, art and popular culture in Viet Thanh Nguyen's brilliant second novel, The Committed -- and I'd love to know your take on his work. Best, Blair
Sarah sent a photo of the crew in Berlin -- good times! RE Nguyen, his first novel (The Sympathizer) pulls no punches, but The Committed goes above and beyond -- a brutal, incisive culture clash in post-Vietnam Paris, it's stunning.
Two weeks ago I read McAuley's book. Benjamin is right: this is a great and important book!
Fascinating interview - thank you! Impatient for the book . . .
Think it will be right up your alley
Ben, I just love your stories!
❤️
My favorite French prof, Doug Collins (he wrote SARTRE AS BIOGRAPHER, and was a greater intellectual and Francophile than we undergrads deserved), made sure our study-abroad group spent a day at Le Musée de Camondo, and he pointed me toward Pierre Assouline's biography LE DERNIER DES CAMONDO. Thanks to that experience and guidance, I am fascinated by this kind of connoisseurship and cannot wait to read Mr. McAuley's book. Thanks for bringing it to our attention, and for the engaged/engaging interview!
Of course you would be into this! How funny that we are always interested in the same things.
Wonderful interview, Ben! We'll find James' book at our neighborhood shop. Meanwhile, I've just finished reading a lashing critique of French politics, history, art and popular culture in Viet Thanh Nguyen's brilliant second novel, The Committed -- and I'd love to know your take on his work. Best, Blair
I haven’t read it! We saw Sarah a couple of days ago though ❤️
Sarah sent a photo of the crew in Berlin -- good times! RE Nguyen, his first novel (The Sympathizer) pulls no punches, but The Committed goes above and beyond -- a brutal, incisive culture clash in post-Vietnam Paris, it's stunning.