Reviews for The Fabulous Imagination: On Montaigne's Essays

The average rating for The Fabulous Imagination: On Montaigne's Essays based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2009-08-04 00:00:00 Carol Near I never expected a Robin Leach approach to a Modernist Titan. The author was able to door-stop poor Sam by his tenure as drama critic. Sam was sage, there were ground rules: no notes in our "chats." [Cut to an aside of the hack rushing to his moleskin afterwards, musing--more detail on Sam's craggy appearance] Aside from the "interviews" with Beckett himself, there are discussions with many involved in productions of plays. All of this is miraculously accomplished without an artful word. There is something of a permanent leer, an unsettling gaze. I didn't care for it. Gussow confesses he harbored aspirations of an authorized Beckett biography. Denied by Sam, Gussow gathered gossipy notes. There are anecdotes about Dustin Hoffmann completing a reading of Godot. There's Pinter stating he once drank for 24 hours with Beckett. Towards the end there is an actual interview with Beckett's nephew and executor of his estate. There is a touch of sentiment, though one imagines the nephew cringing from the author's excited, hot breath.

Review # 2 was written on 2010-01-05 00:00:00 Robert Cappock If you are only a casual reader of Samuel Beckett's works, "Conversations With And About Beckett" may not warrant your attention. If, on the other hand, you are a Beckett disciple, this book is indispensible. Mel Gussow had a lengthy relationship with Sam Beckett and he provides insight and perspective that is a worthy addition even to the excellent biography by James Knowlson "Damned to Fame". There are rare interviews with the incomparable Billie Whitelaw, his nephew Edward Beckett et al, that provide much information about this very private man. There is also an insightful section devoted to essays and reviews from the periods when many of his plays were introduced as well as interesting commentary on the radio plays. Don't be surprised if you become somewhat verklempt while working your way through this volume, I did. Particularly moving is the lengthy obituary written by Gussow and appeared on the front page of the New York Times. If there is fault with this book, my only complaint would be is that it is too short. I often say to some of my friends: "Thank God for the BBC", because if it wasn't for them, the availability of decent history and literature would be wanting in America. I feel the same way about Samuel Beckett: "Thank God for Grove Press".