The Philosopher
William H. Gass
The face
The background
- Nationality:
- American
- Schools:
- postmodernism
- Branchs:
- Philosophy of language, Metafiction, Creative nonfiction
- Period:
- 20th-21st century
The synopsis
William Howard Gass was an American novelist, short story writer, essayist, critic, and philosophy professor. Born in Fargo, North Dakota, he served in the Navy during World War II and earned a PhD in philosophy from Cornell University. Gass taught at various universities, including Purdue and Washington University in St. Louis. His literary career began with short stories, leading to acclaimed novels like 'Omensetter's Luck' (1966), 'The Tunnel' (1995), and 'Middle C' (2013). He was celebrated for his masterful prose and contributions to postmodern literature. Gass also received significant recognition for his critical essays, winning multiple awards for them. He passed away in 2017, leaving a significant legacy in American letters.
The works
Omensetter's Luck
The Tunnel
Middle C
A Temple of Texts
Fiction and the Figures of Life
Finding a Form
Cartesian Sonata and Other Novellas
Eyes
On Being Blue: A Philosophical Inquiry
The World Within the Word
Habitations of the Word
Finding a Form: Essays
Reading Rilke: Reflections on the Problems of Translation
Tests of Time
Conversations with William H. Gass
Life Sentences
The William H. Gass Reader
The quotes
We converse as we live by repeating, by combining and recombining a few elements over and over again just as nature does when of elementary particles it builds a world.
If there were genders to genres, fiction would be unquestionably feminine.
For the speedy reader paragraphs become a country the eye flies over looking for landmarks, reference points, airports, restrooms, passages of sex.
Getting even is one reason for writing.