The Rush for Second Place: Essays and Occasional Writings

By William Gaddis

William Gaddis published only four novels during his lifetime, but with those works he earned himself a reputation as one of America's greatest novelists, the heir to Joyce and Nabokov. Less well known is Gaddis's body of perceptive critical writings. Presented here is a wide range of Gaddis's original essays. From 'Stop Player. Joke No. 4, ' Gaddis's first national publication and the basis for his projected history of the player piano-which would ultimately inspire Gaddis's final novel, Agape Agape-to the title essay about missed opportunities in America during the past fifty years, to Old Foes with New Faces, an examination of the relationship between the writer and the problem of religion, this diverse collection displays the power of an autonomous literary intelligence in an age increasingly dominated by political and religious conservatism

• Format: Audio CD
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1541414365
• ISBN13: 9781541414365
• Release Date: December 2018
• Publisher: Tantor Audio
• Weight: 0.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 6.4"

Customer Reviews

Finally, the Collected Uncollected Works...

It's good finally to see William Gaddis's "ocassional" writings collected into one volume. For years, the only thing available was the super-rare and thus ridiculously expensive pirate edition, "The Uncollected Works of William Gaddis" published by the so-called Black Moon Press, whoever and wherever they were or weren't. While that underground classic might have had the drop on this legit book, "The Rush For Second Place" is more complete and up to date. Good stuff!