The Rush for Second Place

Essays and Occasional Writings

By: William Gaddis, Joseph Tabbi - editor

Narrated by: Nick Sullivan

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' body of perceptive critical writings.

Presented here is a wide range of Gaddis' original essays. From "Stop Player. Joke No. 4", Gaddis' first national publication and the basis for his projected history of the player piano - which would ultimately inspire Gaddis' final novel, Agape Agape - to the title essay about missed opportunities in America during the past 50 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.

©2002 The Estate of William Gaddis (P)2018 Tantor

Nick Sullivan nails yet another exceptional performance

The segment JR Up To Date is phenomenal and makes the entire piece worthwhile to experience for it alone.