William H. Gass

On Being Blue

In a philosophical approach to color, Gass explores mans perception of the color blue as well as its common erotic, symbolic, and emotional associations.

A Conversation with Stanley Elkin and William H. Gass

Stanley Elkin and William H. Gass are important American writers. Elkin regards himself as primarily a fiction writer, and in his work?stories, nov els, novellas?he turns the conventions of fiction to new and significant ac count. Gass regards himself as primarily a stylist, and in his work?stories, essays, a novel, a novella?he turns the conventions of genre into new and wonderful forms. It was with this difference of perspective in mind that I asked them, not to submit themselves to an interview as such, but rather if they would have a conversation on various aspects of fiction, of writing, of art. They agreed. This conversation was taped one afternoon in June, 1975, in St. Louis. Elkin s new novel, The Franchiser, will be published this spring by Farrar, Straus ?? Giroux. Gasss work-in-progress, among other projects, is a novel, The Tunnel. ?Jeffrey L. Duncan