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Remembering Novelist Stanley Elkin

Elkin was called "one of the most entertaining stylists in contemporary American fiction." His use of metaphor, "transforms grotesque situations and the drab vulgarity of popular consumer culture into comic affirmations of human existence." (from Contemporary Literary Criticism). His novels included, The MacGuffin, The Magic Kingdom, and others. Elkin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis twenty years ago and died of heart failure on Wednesday, May 31, 1995. We replay our 1993 interview with him. (Rebroadcast)

16:25
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Other segments from the episode on June 2, 1995

Fresh Air with Terry Gross, June 2, 1995: Interview with Don Wasler; Obituary for Stanley Elkin; Review of the film "Bridges of Madison County."
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21:28

Country Yodeler Don Walser

At age 60, Walser has retired from his job as a Texas state internal auditor to concentrate on his music, and has just released an album, "Rolling Stone From Texas" (Watermelon Records). He is "a middle-aged man with a potbelly and glasses" (Houston Chronicle) whose "yodeling is better than sex." (Playboy) (REBROADCAST FROM 12/13/94)

Interview

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15:45

Author Stanley Elkin on Writing and Multiple Sclerosis

Elkin has been called "one of the most entertaining stylists in contemporary American fiction." His novels include, "The MacGuffin," "The Magic Kingdom," and others. His latest collection of of novellas is "Van Gogh's Room at Arles." Elkin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis twenty years ago. He'll talk about his writing and his life and how it's changed since the disease has progressed.

Interview

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